https://www.epa.

gov/international-cooperation/epa-efforts-asia-pacific-region

EPA Efforts in the Asia-Pacific Region

EPA works with nations in the Asia-Pacific region to protect the global
environment and public health.  Our work focuses on large and developing
economies and population centers, including China and Vietnam. We also
collaborate on initiatives in Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan, and partner
with the Asian Development Bank. 

Explore our work in the Asia-Pacific region:

 Examples of Work in the Region
 Where We Work
 Contacts

Examples of Work in the Region

China

EPA and China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) have a long-

standing partnership that has advanced the environmental protection capacities
in both the United States and China. The collaboration is focused on six key
areas of cooperation:  1) improving air quality; 2) reducing water pollution; 3)
preventing exposure to chemicals and toxics; 4) remediating soil, hazardous and
solid waste; 5) improving environmental enforcement and compliance; and 6)
enhancing environmental laws and institutions. Collaboration since the first U.S.-
China Joint Committee on Environmental Cooperation (JCEC) in 2007 has
expanded the quality of environmental protection expertise at both EPA and
MEE and has equipped China to achieve significant milestones in the
development of its environmental protection laws and policies.

 October 2019: EPA hosted a delegation of 22 environmental enforcement

officials and inspectors from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and
Provincial Environmental Protection Bureaus for training and exchange on
U.S. enforcement and compliance of environmental laws. EPA shared
experience and lessons on administrative, civil and criminal enforcement of
 environmental laws; inspection process; federal, state and local
coordination; and the use of advanced monitoring tools and data analytics
to target compliance. The delegation from China presented on
developments and improvements to China’s environmental enforcement
and compliance assurance capabilities based on lessons learned from
continued exchanges with EPA.

Vietnam

Environmental officials
from USEPA, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and
Taiwan EPA visit Bali Refuse to learn about recycling and environmental
education.A coastal nation of approximately ninety-four million people, Vietnam is
one of Asia’s fastest emerging economies and an important environmental
partner for EPA.  EPA is collaborating with Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment (MONRE) to strengthen environmental laws and
institutions by training environmental officials on reviewing environmental impact
assessments, conducting environmental inspections, developing permitting
standards, enforcing regulations, and providing environmental information to the
public.  These efforts are advancing increased compliance with environmental
laws, improved air and water quality, better waste management, increased public
participation and access to environmental information, and improved chemical
management by industry. 
 

 May 2019: EPA partnered with the International Network for Environmental

Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) EXITto conduct a one-week
technical program for MONRE to learn about environmental policies in the
U.S. and in Taiwan. The program focused on environmental impact
 assessment, waste and wastewater management, and extended producer
responsibility. This exchange program helped inform development of new
environmental laws in Vietnam. View the program proceedings. EXIT

Top of Page

Where We Work
Explore the links below to learn more about EPA's collaboration with government
ministries in the following countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

Australia

China
 

Japan

Pacific Islands

Singapore

South Korea

Vietnam

EPA does not currently have active bilateral programs in Afghanistan,

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Sri Lanka or Thailand.  We occasionally engage these countries through
multilateral, regional and global initiatives; or on select technical issues.

EPA’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs serves as EPA’s point of contact

for information and requests related to foreign countries.
https://www.unenvironment.org/regions/asia-and-pacific/regional-initiatives

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing economic region in the world. It is

also a place of contrasts, home to some of the smallest and poorest
countries and some of the largest and richest. Millions have been lifted
out of poverty, but the region remains home to almost half of the
world’s poor.

Growth has come at a price. Rapid urbanization, affluent lifestyles and

increased demand for resources and services are exerting increasing
pressure on land and natural resources in the region and challenging
the sustainability of the region’s development. Yet, countries lead in
innovative policy and direction, like Bhutan’s Gross National
Happiness, Thailand’s sufficiency economy and quality growth model
of China.

UN Environment works with countries in Asia Pacific to pursue growth

that catalyses the efficient use of the region’s natural assets, reduces
degradation of the environment and brings social and economic
benefits to the people of the region. We focus on innovative and
impactful solutions to environmental challenges in the region, with an
integrated approach that brings together all three dimensions of
sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. In
addition, we help countries meet the UN Sustainable Development
Goals.
We work with national and local authorities, civil society, UN entities,
financial institutions, regional bodies and networks, research
institutions and the private sector.

Fostering Dialogue and Partnerships for Sound Environmental

Management

In Asia Pacific, UN Environment works at the regional, sub-regional

and national levels. There are five sub-regions: Northeast Asia, South
Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Pacific.

Work is focused on UN Environment’s six cross-cutting thematic

priorities:

Climate change
Disasters and conflicts
Ecosystem management
Environmental governance
Chemicals and waste
Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production
Environment Under Review
Gender
Air
At the regional level, UN Environment supports the Asia Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development, held every
five years. This is a collaborative effort between the UN Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asian Development Bank
and UN Environment.

UN Environment co-chairs the Thematic Working Group on

Environment and Disaster Management with UNESCAP and the
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Thematic
Working Group is part of the Regional Coordination Mechanism. The
Regional Director is also a member of the UNDP Regional Directors’
Team.

UN Environment established the Sub-regional Environmental Policy

Dialogue (SEPD), comprising chairs of each of the five sub-regional
intergovernmental bodies and five civil society leaders. The SEPD
meets annually to discuss emerging issues and provide guidance to
UN Environment’s programmes in the region. It advises UN
Environment on enhanced global and regional delivery, as well as
identifying emerging environmental issues at the regional level.

Sub-regional

At the sub-regional level, UN Environment works to forge strong

partnerships for collaborative and effective environmental
management. It works with intergovernmental bodies, environment
ministries, research organizations, international bodies, UN agencies
and Major Groups and Stakeholders to identify and address common
and trans-boundary issues. The following is a brief description of
countries and institutions UN Environment works with in each sub-
region.
Northeast Asia

The Northeast Asia sub-region covers five countries: the Peoples

Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan,
Mongolia and Republic of Korea.  Northeast Asia has the following
major intergovernmental fora: the Tripartite Environment Ministers
Meeting, the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for
Environmental Cooperation, the Northwest Pacific Action Plan and the
Greater Tumen Initiative.

Southeast Asia

The Southeast Asia subregion consists of eleven countries: Brunei

Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. There are two intergovernmental
organizations, the Association of Southeast Asian Association and
Mekong River Commission. It also has an important cooperative
programme called the Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic
Cooperative Programme.

South Asia

The South Asia subregion consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh,

Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. There are
three intergovernmental organisations: the South Asia Association for
Regional Cooperation, South Asia Cooperative Environment
Programme and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development. UN Environment has signed agreements with all three
institutions and works actively in the sub-region.

Pacific

The Pacific sub-region consists of 21 Pacific Island Countries and

Territories and has a number of regional agencies, including
intergovernmental organizations. The Secretariat of the Pacific
Regional Environment Programme covers environment and
sustainable development issues, whereas the South Pacific Applied
Geosciences Commission focuses on non-living resources, ocean
management, hazard assessment and geosciences. The Council of
Regional Organizations of the Pacific facilitates coordination amongst
the ten regional organizations. UN Environment works closely with
SPREP.

National

At the national level, UN Environment works closely with partners

under the “Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity
Building” to provide systematic and targeted capacity building for
integrated environmental assessments and action plans on current
and emerging issues.

The Belt and Road

Initiative International
 Green Development
Coalition (BRIGC)
In Resource efficiency

Asia Pacific
 Our impact in Asia Pacific
 Regional initiatives
o Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development
Coalition
o Building resilience to disasters and conflicts
o China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Centre
o Helping countries tackle climate change
o Integrating the value of nature into our economies
o Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals
o Promoting gender equality and the environment
o Promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste
o Providing the science to inform smart policies
o Restoring clean air
o Supporting good governance
o Supporting resource efficiency
 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
 Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge
The Belt and Road Initiative is a China-led effort to promote economic
development and inter-regional connectivity in over 115 countries, and
is arguably the largest single investment in infrastructure in
generations. This undertaking will involve trillions of dollars of
investments, largely in transportation, energy, and
telecommunications infrastructure, industrial capacity, and technical
capacity building.

With any such large-scale development comes significant

environmental challenges. In addition to the immediate biophysical
impacts, if Belt and Road investments lock countries into
unsustainable infrastructure, technology, and resource extraction, this
will create long-lasting negative environmental consequences.

These could, in turn, seriously undermine the ability of many countries

to meet their targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. With all Belt and Road investments, care must be taken
to ensure that decisions are based on sound knowledge and solid
science. Social and environmental safeguards must be put in place so
that projects include effective stakeholder engagement and that
benefits are equitably shared.

More than 20 United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,

including UN Environment, are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The importance and relevance of this initiative for UN

Environment
UN Environment has a clear mandate to assist countries in achieving
sustainable development. This includes making investment and
business practices more sustainable. The Belt and Road Initiative
presents a window of opportunity in which UN Environment can help
recipient countries use Belt and Road investments to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals. UN Environment’s efforts to “green”
the Belt and Road Initiative will involve using the organisation’s
existing expertise in the Belt and Road context.

The main focus will be to work with countries that receive Belt and
Road investments in order to help them establish the enabling
conditions that will ensure that the investments are environmentally
sustainable. UN Environment will also be working with Chinese
counterparts to support green investment.

UN Environment has the convening power to bring together the wide

range of stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring the sustainability of
the Belt and Road Initiative. With the right policies and safeguards in
place, the Belt and Road Initiative has significant potential to help
countries work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
and the 2030 Agenda.

Links to UN Environment Programming

The greening of the Belt and Road Initiative directly contributes to UN

Environment’s Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of Work,
cutting across several Sub-programmes. These include the Resource
Efficiency, Climate Change, Healthy and Productive Ecosystems,
Environmental Governance, and Environment under Review Sub-
programmes.

Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development

Coalition

One of the avenues for increasing the environmental sustainability of

the Belt and Road Initiative is the Belt and Road Initiative International
Green Development Coalition (BRIGC or The Coalition).

The Coalition was launched during the 2nd Second Belt and Road
Forum for International Cooperation which took place in Beijing from
25th to 27th April 2019. The Coalition is an open, inclusive and
voluntary international network which brings together the
environmental expertise of all partners to ensure that the Belt and
Road brings long-term green and sustainable development to all
concerned countries in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. The current set-up of The Coalition involves 134
partners including 26 Environmental Ministries of UN Member States.

The Coalition’s mission is to integrate sustainable development, in

particular environmental sustainability, international standards and
best practices, across the five priorities of the Belt and Road Initiative:

 policy coordination,
 infrastructure,
 trade,
 financial integration, and
 cultural exchanges.
What will the Coalition Do?

The Coalition will provide a platform for the following:

(1) Policy dialogue and communication to:

 Share green and sustainable development concepts and

environmental policy options;
 Provide communication opportunities amongst different Belt and
Road stakeholder groups, including business entities, research
institutes, international, intergovernmental, non-governmental
organisations, and governments;
 Forge a joint research network which could provide support and
policy recommendations for green development in the Belt and
Road regions.

(2) Share knowledge, data, and analysis related to:

 Environmental protection, pollution prevention and control;

 Green development of the Belt and Road;
 Capacity building on environmental management and
sustainable infrastructure development;
 Raising environmental awareness.

Thematic Partnerships

The Coalition’s work will be delivered through a biennial High-Level

Roundtable for Green Development on the Belt and Road and a
 number of Thematic Partnerships made up of coalition partners. The
areas of Thematic Partnerships may include, but are not limited to:

 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management;

 Green Energy and Energy Efficiency;
 Green Finance and Investment;
 Improvement of Environmental Quality and Green Cities;
 South-South Environmental Cooperation and Capacity Building
towards Realising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable
Development;
 Green Technology Innovation and Corporate Social
Responsibility;
 Environmental Information Sharing and Big Data;
 Sustainable Transportation;
 Global Climate Change Governance and Green Transformation;
 Environmental Laws, Regulations and Standards.

In addition, activities under the Coalition will include a series of

research, seminars and workshops related to green Belt and Road,
pilot projects, capacity building and outreach activities.

Breadcrumb
 Home
  Regions
  Asia and the Pacific
  Regional initiatives
 Integrating the value of
nature into our
economies
In Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Asia Pacific
 Our impact in Asia Pacific
 Regional initiatives
o Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development
Coalition
o Building resilience to disasters and conflicts
o China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Centre
o Helping countries tackle climate change
o Integrating the value of nature into our economies
o Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals
o Promoting gender equality and the environment
o Promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste
o Providing the science to inform smart policies
o Restoring clean air
o Supporting good governance
o Supporting resource efficiency
 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
 Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge
Integrating the Value of Nature into Our Economies

From coral reefs in the South Pacific to tropical forests in the South
East Asia, Asia Pacific is home to a rich spectrum of biodiversity on
which many lives and livelihoods depend. These natural ecosystems--
and the biodiversity contained within--provide people in the region with
food, clean water, flood protection and opportunities for income and
development. Unfortunately, population growth, rapid industrialization
and urbanization are eroding the region’s natural resource base, and
with it, incur social and economic costs.

Asia Pacific holds:

 20% of the world's biodiversity

 14% of the world's tropical forests
 34% of the world's coral reef.
What we are doing

With partners, UN Environment works to realign economic

development priorities and financing to curb environmental
degradation and economic losses from declining biodiversity and
habitats and supports efforts towards going green.

Mainstreaming biodiversity in production landscapes and

seascapes

We help countries protect genetic diversity of important agriculture

crops, develop and apply voluntary certification programmes,
introduce market based instruments, promote eco-friendly approaches
in industry and economies, and prevent and manage invasive alien
species.

Strengthening management of Protected Areas and landscapes

Protected areas are not always adequately protected in a landscape

context. We support countries to strengthen governance, financing,
and management of protected areas. Additionally, we encourage
investments in forest restoration, smallholder production, and green
infrastructure.

Enhancing ocean governance and tackling marine pollution

We work through the East Asian Seas and North West Pacific Action
Plans to advance intergovernmental collaboration to tackle marine
pollution and habitat conservation and management.

60 to 70% of plastic in the ocean comes from Asia Pacific.

Conserving species and combatting wildlife crimes

We help governments to conserve species and tackle wildlife crime by

raising awareness, facilitating cooperation, engaging in policy
dialogues and encouraging innovation and technology for species
conservation, particularly for iconic and endangered species like the
dugong and more.

Integrating the value of nature and taking the green economy

approach

We facilitate the adoption of Green Growth practices and Natural

Capital investments in key economic sectors and the integration of
Natural Capital values in private sector investments and decisions.

Implementing international agreements

We support countries meet their obligations in landmark biodiversity

conventions such the Convention on Biological Diversity, and more
specifically the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and
Action Plans and the Nagoya Protocol.

 National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans - Under the

Convention of Biological Diversity, participating countries are
 required to develop a nationwide plan to preserve and protect its
biological diversity and ecosystems.
 The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing - The
Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement which helps
ensure that the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic
resources are shared in a fair and equitable way.

Mainstreaming gender into conservation

Women are often disproportionately affected by environmental

degradation and are their role in biodiversity conservation is often
downplayed. Our regional office understands that and we make
gender equality in biodiversity planning and management a priority.

Partnerships for concerted action

We team up with sub-regional bodies, such as ASEAN, South Asia

Co-operative Environment Programme and Secretariat of the Pacific
Regional Environment Programme, to facilitate dialogue and catalyze
actions to address trans-boundary issues. Our Global Environment
Facility funding partnership has a portfolio value of US$ 600 million in
biodiversity, land and water management initiatives.

Our signature projects

 Green Fins - Green Fins is a public-private partnership to reduce

environment impact of recreational diving and snorkeling,
engaging over 500 scuba diving companies in the region.
  Forest Certification for Ecosystem Services - The Forest
Certification for Ecosystem Services strengthens the business
case for sustainable forest management through certification
programmes.
 Global Coral Reef Partnership - This project supports the
provision of sound data on coral reef status and trends, climate
change vulnerability, ecosystem service values.
 Removing Barriers to Invasive Species Management in
Production and Protection Forests in Southeast Asia - This
initiative looks to reduce the impacts of invasive species on
natural and man-made production systems.

South China Sea Strategic Action Programme Implementation

In partnership with the coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia,

this initiative assists countries with the management of mangroves,
coral reefs, seagrass and wetlands, and strengthen regional
coordination.

Strengthening Forest and Ecosystem Connectivity in the RIMBA

Corridor in Central Sumatra

This project supports the promotions of green growth practices and

Natural Capital investments in local government operations.

Regional Marine Litter Initiative Regional Marine Litter Initiative.

We support countries to tackle marine litter problems through regional

cooperation.
 Poverty-Environment
Action for Sustainable
Development Goals
In Sustainable Development Goals

Asia Pacific
 Our impact in Asia Pacific
 Regional initiatives
o Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development
Coalition
o Building resilience to disasters and conflicts
o China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Centre
o Helping countries tackle climate change
o Integrating the value of nature into our economies
o Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development
Goals
o Promoting gender equality and the environment
o Promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste
o Providing the science to inform smart policies
o Restoring clean air
o Supporting good governance
o Supporting resource efficiency
 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
 Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge

Why?

70% of the world’s poor men and women draw upon natural resources
for most of their livelihoods. Farmlands, grasslands, forests,
freshwaters and oceans are the sources of more than half of the
income of poor households worldwide. Yet those natural resources –
the basis of the - GDP of the poor” – are rapidly being degraded
across the globe.

The 2030 Agenda reflects the major poverty-environment challenges

facing the world’s population: depleted natural capital, climate
vulnerability, gender inequality, rural-urban migration and growing
resource demands – all of those disproportionately harm the
livelihoods and well-being of the poor.

Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals

promotes an integrated approach that brings poverty, environment
and climate objectives into the heart of national and subnational plans,
policies, budgets and public and private finance to strengthen the
sustainable management of natural resources and to alleviate poverty.

How?

In 2018, United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)

and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched
Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals. It
builds on more than a decade of experience of its predecessor, the
Poverty-Environment Initiative.

We are extending the previous Initiative’s strategy along three

complementary lines:

 Aligning public and private finance and investments with poverty,

environment and climate actions to accelerate implementation of
the Sustainable Development Goals;
 Deepening countries’ efforts to integrate environmental
sustainability and climate objectives for poverty eradication into
development planning, budgeting and monitoring systems;
 Broadening South-South cooperation, partnerships and
knowledge-sharing to use integrated tools for sustainable
development.

Where?

Poverty-Environment Action directly works with the Ministries of

Finance, Planning, Environment, Natural Resources as well as
sectoral line Ministries in Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Myanmar and
Nepal to prevent environmental degradation that especially harms the
poor and marginalized. Technical assistance will be available to other
interested countries.

Myanmar

The Government of Myanmar has committed to a series of policy

reforms on environmental governance, climate change and disaster
risk reduction to ensure that economic growth in Myanmar is more
inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

Recognizing that Myanmar’s environmental assets present unique

opportunities for green economic development, which can directly
support women’s economic empowerment and community resilience,
Poverty-Environment Action aims to promote integrated policies and
financing in support of SDG implementation. More specifically, its
objectives are:

 Resilience and sustainability policy frameworks are strengthened

and implemented;
Increased promotion of small and large-scale green investments;
Improved organizational arrangements and capacity of targeted
government offices with environment, climate change and
disaster risk reduction responsibilities;
Local environment, climate change and disaster risk issues are
addressed through subnational implementation of innovative
policies and action plans.Resilience and sustainability policy
frameworks are strengthened and implemented;
 Increased promotion of small and large-scale green investments;
 Improved organizational arrangements and capacity of targeted
government offices with environment, climate change and
disaster risk reduction responsibilities;
 Local environment, climate change and disaster risk issues are
addressed through subnational implementation of innovative
policies and action plans.
Photo by Poverty-Environment Initiative

Lao PDR

Lao PDR is well endowed with natural resources such as mineral,

forest, land and fresh water. The Government of Lao PDR is striving to
position investments in the natural resource sectors that can directly
and indirectly support poverty reduction.

To support this, Poverty-Environment Action aims to strengthen

coordination of government’s regulatory capacity to coordinate and
promote higher quality investment, improvement in the ease-of-doing
business, transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of
investment management for achieving the SDGs in Lao PDR. This will
be done through:

 Promoting and monitoring quality and responsible investment

planning for sustainable development;
 Strengthening assessments, regulations, approvals and
inspections to promote quality and responsible investment.
Photo by Poverty-Environment Initiative

Who?

Partnerships are an essential part of Poverty-Environment Action and,

building on its core UN Environment-UNDP collaboration, the
programme will reach out to various actors involved in sustainable
development, poverty eradication and environmental sustainability.

UN Environment-UNDP Poverty-Environment Action (2018-2022) is

made possible through the support of the European Union and the
 Governments of Austria, Norway and Sweden. We are looking forward
to expanding our partnerships.

Promoting the sound

management of
chemicals and waste
In Chemicals & waste

Asia Pacific
 Our impact in Asia Pacific
 Regional initiatives
o Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development
Coalition
o Building resilience to disasters and conflicts
o China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Centre
o Helping countries tackle climate change
o Integrating the value of nature into our economies
o Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals
o Promoting gender equality and the environment
o Promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste
o Providing the science to inform smart policies
o Restoring clean air
 o Supporting good governance
o Supporting resource efficiency
 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards
 Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge

1 million tonnes of hazardous waste generated daily in Asia Pacific.

The ocean is expected to contain more plastics than fish by 2050.
Chemical production in region is projected to increase by 46% from 
2012-2020.

Poor management of chemicals and waste can lead to illness,

contaminate neighbourhoods, and reduce the region’s productivity.
UN Environment promotes policy interventions, investments, and
institutional capacity-building for sound management of chemicals and
waste.

Managing chemicals and waste of concern

Plastic Waste and Marine Litter

Marine litter has ecological, social and economic impacts. It threatens

the wellbeing of over 600 marine animals, the economies of coastal
communities, and the productivity of marine ecosystems underpinning
our food systems. These organic pollutants travel up the food chain
and are ultimately be consumed by humans—threatening our health.
Financially, marine debris cost the the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation member countries US$1.3 billion each year.
Asia has driven growth in plastic production over recent decades and
is the leading consumer of plastics.  Pacific Island Countries and poor
coastal communities in Asia are highly vulnerable to marine litter
impacts due to their dependence on marine resources.

Where do they come from?

Rivers and canals run-off from land

Direct discharge at coastline and during sea-based activities.

Insufficiently treated Wastewater discharges

Mercury

Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a highly toxic silvery-white

metal that is liquid at room temperature and evaporates easily. Once
released, mercury can travel long distances, and persists in
environments where it circulates between air, water, sediments, soil,
and living organisms. Mercury is concentrated as it rises up the food
chain, reaching its highest level in predator fish that may be consumed
by humans.  High exposure to mercury is a serious risk to human
health and the environment.

Where do They Come From?

 Deposition from atmosphere

 Coal fired power plant
 Cement, chor-alkali, vinyl chloride, non-ferrous metal plants.
 waste incineration and cremation
 Urban sewage system
 Artisanal small-scale gold mining.

What We Are Doing

Reduction of Land Based  Sources of Marine Pollution

With partners, we established initiatives to reduce solid waste in the
marine environment. For example, we support Myanmar’s national
waste management strategy development, and city-wide waste
management plans in Bangkok, Thailand and Mandalay, Myanmar

Global and regional cooperation on marine litter

We team up with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment

Programme on marine litter outreach and action in the Pacific and
review the Regional Marine Litter Action Plan of the Coordinating
Body on the Seas of the East Asia.

Ratification of the Minamata Convention

We prepare countries in the region to curb mercury pollution prepare

for the Minamata Convention on Mercury’s entry into force. So far, ten
countries -  Afghanistan, China, Iran, Japan, Mongolia, Palau, Samoa,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam have ratified the Convention and will
participate as parties in the first Conference of the Parties which will
take place on 25 to 29 September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Origin of the Name

This convention is named after a city in Japan called Minamata. The

town endured acute mercury poisoning due to the dumping of
methylmercury in the local waters by a chemical plant. As a result, fish
and shellfish in the Minamata Bay consumed by locals, began
accumulating mercury. This incident left many severely ill, disabled or
dead.
Curbing artisanal and small scale gold mining in Myanmar

Under the Minamata Convention, countries are required to develop

action plans to curb mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold
mining. UN Environment is assisting Myanmar to prepare initial
assessments and a national action plan with financial support from the
Global Environment Facility.

Delivering integrated waste solutions at the national and local

levels

UN Environment assists national and local authorities to develop

strategies for integrated solid waste management to reduce waste,
recycle, minimize accumulation in landfills, and ensure safe disposal
of hazardous waste.

Regional Enforcement Network for Chemicals and Waste

The Regional Enforcement Network for Chemicals and Waste works

with 25 Asia Pacific countries to prevent and control illegal
transboundary movements of harmful substances and hazardous
wastes. The network enhances enforcement of chemicals and waste
multilateral agreements and is a platform for intelligence sharing. Our
work in the region includes organizing the Asia Environmental
Enforcement Award and workshops on illegal trade in chemicals and
waste for customs officials. Learn more
Asia Environmental Enforcement Award recipients in Bangkok,
Thailand.

Environment and Health Regional Forum

This triennial forum is a joint initiative of UN Environment and the
World Health Organization to strengthen environmental health
management in Southeast and East Asian countries. It promotes
integrated environment health strategies and regulations by fostering
cooperation between ministries of environment and health within and
between countries.