Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

G20 Workshop on harmonized monitoring and data compilation of marine plastic litter

7th September 2020, Online , Japan

Background and purpose of the Workshop

Marine plastic litter is a matter requiring urgent action given impacts on marine ecosystems, livelihoods, and industries including fisheries, tourism, and shipping, and potentially on human health. The “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” was shared at the G20 Osaka summit in 2019, and has been already shared with further countries. The vision aims to reduce additional pollution by marine plastic litter to zero by 2050 through a comprehensive life-cycle approach. In order to reduce marine plastic litter and microplastics on a global scale efficiently, scientific evidence, such as hot spots, predicted amount of marine plastic litter and impacts on ecosystems or so, play a significant role in setting new measures to tackle marine plastic litter.  However, due to some barriers, globally compiled monitoring data does not yet exist. 

 

The harmonization and standardization of monitoring methods were listed as priority measures at the G7 Elmaus Summit in 2015 to further advance science-based measures.  In addition, the “G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter”, which was established at the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth in 2019, calls for the promotion of harmonized monitoring methods. The follow-up meeting of the framework was held on 9-10 October, 2019, and the meeting identified anticipated future activities including an initiative of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) to voluntarily take a lead in harmonized monitoring and data compilation.

 

In this context, MOEJ has conducted several projects and international expert meetings for harmonization and standardization of the methods since 2016. As a result, MOEJ was pleased to release “Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods” in May 2019, and its revision in June 2020.

 

As the next step in harmonization and standardization of monitoring data, MOEJ has organized this webinar for the purpose to discuss the importance of globally compiled monitoring data and to promote a worldwide network for data sharing.

Organizer

Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Participants

  • G20 member states
  • Countries and regions sharing the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision”
  • Selected experts on marine litter and microplastics
  • International organizations, especially funding institutions

*Invitation-only

Welcome message

KOIZUMI Shinjiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan

Agenda

20:00~20:30(JST)
11:00~11:30(UTC) 
Opening remarks
Welcome message 
 
KOIZUMI Shinjiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan (Video)
 
  Keynote speech 
 
Dr. FAQEEHA Osama, Deputy Minister for Environment, Saudi Arabia
 
TAKEMOTO Kazuhiko, Project Professor, The University of Tokyo
PDF (1.8MB)
  Introduction 
 
NAKASHIMA Keiji, Director, Office of Policies against Marine Plastic pollution, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
PDF (1.2MB)
20:30~21:35(JST)
11:30~12:35(UTC)
Significance of harmonized monitoring and data compilation 
 
KERSHAW Peter, WG40 Co-Chair, The Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP)
PDF (480KB)
SAVELLI-SODERBERG Heidi, Programme Officer, Marine Litter Global Programme of Action, Ecosystem Division, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
 
BELOV Sergey, International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) Co-Chair, The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) Project Office for IODE
PDF (2.1MB)
ISOBE Atsuhiko, Professor, Kyusyu University
PDF (538KB)
CORDOVA Muhammad Reza, Research Scientist, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia
PDF (2.2MB)
  Panel discussion Ⅰ 
21:35~21:40(JST)
12:35~12:40(UTC)

General comment

 
Ms. Jane Nishida, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator , Office of International and Tribal Affairs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
PDF (851KB)

21:40~22:50(JST)
12:40~13:50(UTC)

Promoting harmonized monitoring and data sharing around the world
 
GIORGETTI Alessandra, Coordinator of The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Chemistry, the EU
PDF (1.7MB)
LI Daoji, Professor, Director of Ocean Plastics Research Center, East China Normal University
PDF (3.2MB)
CHIBA Sanae, Group Leader, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
PDF (1.6MB)
ABE Tatsuya, Deputy Director, Office of Policies against Marine Plastic pollution, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
PDF (1.0MB)
  Panel discussion Ⅱ 
22:50~23:00(JST)
13:50~14:00(UTC)
Closing 
  Chair’s Summary of the Workshop 
 
MICHIDA Yutaka, Professor, The University of Tokyo (Chair)
 
  Closing 
 
Dr. FAQEEHA Osama, Deputy Minister for Environment, Saudi Arabia
 

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