Publications

This publication describes good practices of States in recognizing the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as well as in implementing the procedural and substantive elements of this right. A report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment- with support from UNEP, as part of our work to advance environmental rights.

The Plastics Pollution Policy Inventory is a searchable database consisting of public policy documents targeting plastic pollution. This database was built using a robust methodological process developed with the support of research librarians and experts on public policy databases. The inventory currently includes over 290 downloadable policies with the intent to address plastic pollution by subnational, national, and international level governments, and is growing based on stakeholder input and continued research. 

This study aims to synthesize the policy response of governments to the global plastic pollution problem, as a basis for more rigorous monitoring of progress (as called for in Resolution 4/6 of the 2019 United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting) and to inform future public policies.

This report provides a global mapping and assessment of standards, labels and claims on plastic packaging. The findings of this report map the current landscape of consumer information, highlighting good practices and areas where action should be taken. An international, cross-sector consultation revealed five key insights and recommendations for clearer and more effective consumer communication on plastic packaging.

This SEA circular country profile for Cambodia covers the socio-economic profile of Cambodia, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics are detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to Cambodia are detailed.

This SEA circular country profile for Singapore covers the socio-economic profile of Singapore, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics are detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to Singapore are detailed.

Produced in line with the 76th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the theme study Changing Sails: Accelerating Regional Actions for Sustainable Oceans in Asia and the Pacific explores the key areas around which regional platforms can rally interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral solutions for the ocean. It highlights the lack of data and statistics on the ocean, the growing demand for moving towards inclusive and green maritime shipping, deteriorating fish stocks and gaps in fisheries management and the mounting pressure of marine plastic pollution.

In the past year, concerted efforts to scale up the implementation of the 2018-2022 Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) meant PEMSEA and its partner countries surpassed its integrated coastal management (ICM) targets ahead of schedule. Targeting to achieve at least 25% coverage of the region’s coastline by 2021, ICM coverage of the region’s coastline is now estimated at 37.9% as of December 2019.

This SEA circular country profile for China covers the socio-economic profile of China, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics are detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to China are detailed.

This SEA circular country profile for South Korea covers the socio-economic profile of South Korea, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics are detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to South Korea are detailed.

This SEA circular country profile for Indonesia covers the socio-economic profile of Indonesia, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics are detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to Indonesia are detailed.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stands with the billions of people suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate priority is to protect them. But UNEP also has a duty to help nations build back better after the pandemic to increase resilience to future crises. This publication outlines UNEP's responses: The medical & humanitarian emergency phase; Working towards a transformational change for nature and people; Investing to build back better, and; Modernizing global environmental governance.

This SEA circular country profile for Malaysia covers the socio-economic profile of Malaysia, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics are detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to Malaysia are detailed.

This SEA circular country briefing for Viet Nam covers the socio-economic profile of Viet Nam, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics is detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks related to Viet Nam are detailed.

This SEA circular country briefing for the Philippines covers the socio-economic profile of the Philippines, and the coastal and marine ecosystem and economy. It details the plastics and packaging production and usage status and covers aspects of solid waste management - and the impact of both of these factors on marine litter status. Actions taken on marine plastics is detailed, covering government actions and the private sector. Global, regional and national policy frameworks are detailed, incorporating fiscal incentives.

The Ocean Finance Handbook takes stock of the current ocean-scape of finance and provides an introduction to those seeking to increase their understanding of finance and investment in the sustainable blue economy. The Ocean Finance Handbook provides a concise summary of the various means by which finance flows to the ocean can be enhanced, to support the development of the sustainable blue economy.

This SEA circular country briefing for Thailand covers the status of plastic pollution and waste leakage in Thailand, covering coastal and marine ecosystems, impact from plastic pollution, and material flow analysis. It considers the driving forces for marine plastic pollution, covering plastic and packaging, production, consumption and trade, collection, recycling and disposal and Municipal Solid Waste Management. It reviews the national policy and legal framework to reduce plastic pollution, as well as key stakeholders and their initiatives. Finally it shares baseline indicators, and draws conclusions on Thailand's emerging environmental regulatory framework.

This publication from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE), Ocean and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) proposes national waste governance plans to address marine debris “hot spots”, provide technical litter traps on rivers to improve marine debris prevention and remediation, and promote private sector and public involvement in models that extend both producer and consumer responsibility. The report has four case studies of best practice and ends by making recommendations for moving forward, illustrating preventative marine debris measures that may benefit marginalized groups in the APEC region.

This Issue Brief gives an overview of the links between human rights, the environment and marine pollution and discusses a human rights based approach (HRBA) for more equitable and effective marine litter interventions.

This SEA circular Issue Brief gives an overview of the links between gender, the environment and marine pollution and discusses measures to empower women and strengthen equality for more inclusive and effective marine litter interventions.