Submitted by
patricia.parkinson
on Mon, 10/28/2024 - 12:36
General Information
Resolution
49158
IUCN Constituent
IUCN CEESP Oceania 2021-2025
IUCN Constituent type
IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025
Period covered
Geographic scope
Oceania
Country/Territory
Fiji
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Actors involved in implementing this Resolution:
IUCN Members
Fiji Department of Environment ( Fiji )
II. Implementation
Activities carried out to implement this Resolution
Activity
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Description and results/achievements of activities:
The Government of Fiji, in partnership with UNEP and UNTAD, held the first National Symposium Plastic Pollution Prevention on 16-18 Oct. 2024. I contributed a 15 min. presentation (virtual as I was not in Suva) on the key policy recommendations for plastic waste leakage reduction from the Waste management, Tourism and Fisheries sectors, that resulted from the IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands project - Pacific, for which I had been contracted as a consultant to develop these recommendations. During the symposium, the Permanent Secretary for Environment in Fiji announced that a container deposit scheme would be put in place in Fiji.
Status
Completed
Activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description and results/achievements of activities:
As a Fiji-based environmental legal consultant with Environmental Law Oceania Consultancy, I am contracted to provide legal expertise as part of a project team lead by Searious Business (NL)and with funding from the SPREP PacWastePlus project, for the design of the Solomon Island product stewardship scheme (PSS) in collaboration with the Government of the Solomon Islands. I am contracted to contribute to the drafting of Standard Operating Procedures for the PSS, and of drafting notes for the legislative and regulatory basis for the PSS and a beverage container deposit scheme. Oct.2024 - Apr 2025
Status
On-going
Activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description and results/achievements of activities:
As a Fiji-based environmental legal consultant with Environmental Law Oceania Consultancy, I provided legal expertise as part of a project team lead by Searious Business (NL)and with funding from the SPREP PacWastePlus project, for the design of the Vanuatu product stewardship scheme (PSS) in collaboration with Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation and the Government of Vanuatu. I contributed to the drafting of Standard Operating Procedures for the operations of the PSS, of drafting notes for a PSS Act and drafting notes for beverage container deposit scheme regulations- Jun – Dec 2024
Status
On-going
Challenges / obstacles encountered in the implementation of this Resolution
Lack of financial funds
Lack of human resources
Lack of scientific knowledge
Describe any challenges encountered in implementing this Resolution and the measures taken
In the Pacific Islands, financial resources, lack of infrastructure for recycling, and the need for more awareness and behaviour change are challenging in reducing the use of plastic products, and in managing plastic waste. Another challenge is the weak enforcement of measures taken to reduce plastic use, e.g. ban on single use plastic bags in Fiji.
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken
In Vanuatu, changes of management in the DEPC and a change in the Minister in charge of Environment and Climate change, as well as differences of views on the design of the container deposit scheme between the government and the recycling private sector, proved challenging.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions/activities are planned for the implementation of this Resolution
Future action / activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description
Continue working in the Pacific Islands region with government and NGO to raise awareness on plastic pollution and take policy measures to reduce the importation on problematic, unnecessary and avoidable plastics, develop product stewardship schemes and and the reduce plastic waste leakage.
III. Additional Information
External link(s)
Report status
Published
Constituent type
IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy 2021-2025