Student-initiated marine plastic waste declaration for March 16 launch

KUALA LUMPUR: The ASEAN-Japan Centre will organise a launch ceremony for the 'Future Leaders' Declaration on ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for International Marine Plastic Waste' on March 16.

According to a statement, this project has been the first attempt to adopt and present a student-initiated declaration on international marine plastic litter between Japan and 10 ASEAN member countries.

The other countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

A total of 22 undergraduate and graduate students were selected after a rigorous screening process from approximately 60 applicants who are currently studying in Japan.

Since last November, the 22 students have worked together online to draft a joint declaration to combat the current issue of international marine plastic waste via a series of three preparatory sessions and lectures.

They received guidance and support from Professor ISOBE Atsuhiko of Kyushu University, a leading expert on marine micro plastics research, and Professor KAJITA Takaaki of the University of Tokyo and Nobel Laureate in Physics.

They also received special lectures by experts including from the ASEAN Environment Division, the Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

At the ceremony, the students will launch the joint declaration. Event details at https://www.asean.or.jp/en/centre-wide-info/20210225/

-- BERNAMA