Policy Dialogue on Waste Management towards Circular Economy

Date: 31 March 2023
Hybrid event (Vientiane, Lao PDR and online)

 

According to United Nations, Asia is responsible for more than 80 percent of plastic leakages into marine environments, with a large share originating from the GMS. Without urgent action, the amount of waste will rapidly increase in the coming decades, driven by rapid urbanization, economic growth, consumer spending habits, and population growth. Waste management policies in the GMS countries need to be oriented towards resource efficiency, reduction of waste, safe disposal of toxic waste and pollutants and the implementation of waste policies and strategies are to be set in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

The Policy Dialogue on Waste Management towards Circular Economy will focus on plastics waste management including the following aspects:

• the need of updating the legislation on waste management and reporting
• the definition and implementation of waste indicators and policies
• the implementation of taxation and economic instruments
• the application of extended producer responsibility
• the development of a waste data and information management system
• the development of rulebooks for reporting of different waste streams for all stakeholders
• the need for education and implementation campaigns for increasing public awareness for waste treatment and data reporting—and of more reliable statistical information systems by improving the cooperation between the various organizations collecting statistical information

A policy assessment document will be forwarded to participants before the event to facilitate the dialogue.

 

 

Objectives

1. To introduce findings in the policy assessment on waste management and circular economy in GMS countries
2. To present examples of new ways forward in the GMS region and abroad 
3. To give GMS country representatives an opportunity to present their views 

 

Target Participants

Target participants for the policy dialogue include WGE focal points and coordinators, and representatives of relevant government departments and ministries from each country, besides key development partners, representatives from civil society, NGOs and academia, and the private sector. The policy dialogue will gather 40-50 participants.

 

Contact:

Regarding the program of the Policy Dialogue please contact:
Ms. Chiara Metallo, CCESP thematic lead for Theme 4, at cmetallo@ramboll.com

Regarding the CCESP Program, please contact:
Ms. Qudsia Sadiq at gms-ccesp@ramboll.com

 

GMS CCESP Policy Dialogue Waste Management – Agenda

 

About the GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program (CCESP)

The technical assistance (TA) GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program (CCESP), was approved by ADB to support the implementation of the Strategic Framework and Action Plan. This is the third and current phase of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Core Environment Program (CEP). The CCESP Program, to be implemented in 202-2025, targets three outputs, each covering two themes:

1. Climate and disaster resilience enhanced (Theme 1), and low carbon transitions facilitated (Theme 2)
2. Climate-smart landscapes promoted (Theme 3), and environmental quality enhanced (Theme 4)
3. Green technologies (Theme 5) and financing instruments demonstrated (Theme 6)

The above six themes were prioritized by the Working Group on Environment (WGE) during the 24^th GMS WGE Annual Meeting in 2019. The TA aims to help develop climate-friendly projects in the GMS regional investment framework (RIF) through enhancing capacities and enabling policies, demonstrating innovative activities, and catalyzing private sector opportunities.