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- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) has vowed to fight against plastic pollution in the ocean as their leaders adopted a joint declaration during the 34th Asean summit in Bangkok.
- The Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in ASEAN Region was adopted by the leaders of the ASEAN countries which includes four of the world’s top polluters.
- According to a 2015 report co-authored by environmental campaigner Ocean Conservancy,ASEAN members Indonesia,Philippines,Vietnam and Thailand along with the worst offender China throw the most plastic waste into oceans.
- Under the declaration,ASEAN nations has agreed to (a)strengthen national laws and regulations on marine debris (b)promote innovative solutions to improve plastics value chains and resource efficiency and (c)change behaviours to prevent and reduce marine debris.
- However,the declaration omits penalties for the worst offending companies or countries and fails to specify measures to tackle the problem.
- Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental crises today. Researchers estimate that more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced since the early 1950s.About 60% of that plastic has ended up in either a landfill or the natural environment.
