2024-09-09-世界银行-塑料浪潮_南亚海洋塑料污染快照（英）_96页_11mb

1 Introduction

The report analyzes marine plastic pollution in South Asia, a region with six river countries (excluding islands) sharing twenty major rivers. Despite socioeconomic and geographic similarities, countries face challenges in managing plastic waste due to inadequate waste management services and low recycling rates. The study aims to establish a baseline for plastic waste flow and support evidence-based policies for reducing marine plastic pollution.

2 Methodology

A material flow analysis (MFA) and hotspotting model (UNEP/IUCN model) were used to assess plastic leakage into South Asian seas. This involved inventorying plastic production, trade, consumption, and waste management practices across member countries. The model calculates mismanaged plastic waste and estimates leakage into the environment using GIS data for spatial distribution.

3 Key Findings

• High Mismanaged Plastic Waste: Approximately 62% of plastic waste in South Asia is mismanaged, with leakage rates varying significantly by country.
• Major Hotspots: Highly populated urban areas with inadequate waste management infrastructure act as principal points of leakage into aquatic systems. Examples include Chittagong, New Delhi, and Colombo.
• Policy Effectiveness: While policies are common (mostly single-use plastic bans), their effectiveness remains limited due to insufficient enforcement and implementation capacity.
• Data Gaps: Significant data deficiencies exist in plastic trade, consumption patterns, and waste management systems, compounding assessment and policy development efforts.

4 Recommendations for Action

• Data Harmonization: Standardization on measurement units and analytical approaches is essential for region-wide monitoring frameworks.
• Regional Cooperation: Strengthen collaboration through platforms like SACEP, focusing on establishing common policy targets and facilitating knowledge exchange.
• Supply-Side Interventions: Measures include import regulations on hard-to-recycle plastics, national circular plastics action plans, and incentivizing the formalization of the informal sector.
• Circular Economy Framework: Implementation requires systemic shifts encompassing production (design), consumption (re-use), waste stream management (recycling), and resource regeneration.
• Global Plastic Treaty Support: Advocate for the successful negotiations of a global legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution, aligning with regional sustainability goals.

5 Concluding Thoughts

The study emphasizes the transboundary nature of plastic pollution, necessitating a coordinated regional response as integral as national actions. Effective solutions require integrated policies, robust infrastructure, multi-stakeholder engagement, and a transition toward circular economy principles to safeguard water resources and public health outcomes.