• **South Asia’s Plastic Pollution Conundrum**
South Asia, home to some of the world’s most vital river systems, faces a growing plastic pollution crisis. The region’s rivers, seas, and landscapes are under threat from plastic waste that crosses borders and accumulates in waterways. South Asian nations must work together to tackle plastic pollution, said Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. “The region is facing a growing plastic pollution crisis due to inadequate waste management practices, weak enforcement of existing policies, and limited regional cooperation in sharing data and conducting joint monitoring.”

• Three key challenges hinder South Asia’s progress in managing plastic waste
• 1. Inadequate waste management practices, such as open dumping and burning
• 2. Weak enforcement of existing policies
• 3. Limited regional cooperation in sharing data and conducting joint monitoring

The Bangladesh environment secretary emphasized the need for a coordinated regional strategy based on cooperation, innovation, and sustainable financing to tackle plastic pollution. She proposed a regional multi-sectoral plastic action plan that includes:

1. Harmonised policies to support a circular economy
2. Unified regulatory standards to reduce plastic generation
3. Alignment with the Global Plastics Treaty

These measures aim to strengthen the recycling value chain by improving collaborative waste collection, enhancing sorting systems, and investing in innovative recycling technologies. The plan also proposes phasing out harmful plastics and chemical additives, and promoting safer, recyclable alternatives. In addition to the regional action plan, the Environment Secretary proposed:

1. Setting up a regional monitoring system to track progress, assess recycling efficiency, and measure marine litter levels
2. Mobilizing climate and environmental funding to bridge the funding gap
3. Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to hold industries accountable for plastic waste management
4. Establishing public-private partnerships for sustainable packaging

To ensure effective implementation of these measures, Dr. Farhina stressed the need for South Asia-specific research, public-private partnerships for sustainable packaging, and digital tools like AI-driven waste monitoring. “Solutions imported from elsewhere may not work here. We must invest in innovation tailored to our region,” she noted. Bangladesh’s delegation to the Regional Roundtable, led by Dr. Farhina Ahmed, will focus on strengthening the country’s plastic waste management infrastructure and promoting regional cooperation.

Key Points

South Asia must act boldly, collectively, and urgently for a plastic-free future in South Asia.

Opportunities and Challenges

The Regional Roundtable provided opportunities for South Asian nations to share best practices and lessons learned in managing plastic waste. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, limited cooperation, and inconsistent policies hinder the region’s progress. Investing in innovation tailored to the region
Dr. Farhina emphasized the importance of investing in innovation tailored to South Asia’s specific needs. Climate and Environmental Funding
The Environment Secretary urged the mobilization of climate and environmental funding to bridge the funding gap. “Climate and environmental funding is crucial to support the implementation of our plastic action plan,” she emphasized.

Way Forward

South Asia must unite to tackle plastic pollution, said Dr. Farhina Ahmed. The region must work together to develop a comprehensive plastic action plan, implement it effectively, and ensure accountability. “We must move beyond individual national efforts. Let us act boldly, collectively, and urgently for a plastic-free future in South Asia,” Dr. Farhina said. The Bangladesh delegation to the Regional Roundtable will focus on strengthening the country’s plastic waste management infrastructure and promoting regional cooperation. The delegation includes:

• Dr.