Chief of IFRDMD Delivers Opening Remarks at International Workshop on Combating Plastic Pollution
From June 30 to July 1, 2025, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) co-hosted the International Workshop on Sharing Scientific and Technical Knowledge Essential for the Development of the Plastics Treaty toward INC 5.2 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The workshop gathered 40 participants—policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and civil society stakeholders—from across Southeast Asia, both in person and online.
In the opening session, Mr. Andi Soesmono, Chief of SEAFDEC’s Inland Fisheries Resources Development and Management Division (IFRDMD), delivered remarks alongside Ms. Jo Kumala Dewi of the Environment Generation Development Directorate, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Rut Kruger Giverin, Ambassador of Norway to Indonesia. Mr. Andi outlined SEAFDEC’s mandate and IFRDMD’s commitment to tackling plastic pollution in fisheries, concluding with a rallying call: “Let us join forces and treat plastic as our common enemy, ensuring that future generations inherit a world where no plastic waste remains beyond the reach of recycling. I am confident that our discussions today will inspire stronger partnerships, shared solutions, and a renewed sense of urgency to combat marine debris in all its forms.”
Over the course of two days, six expert speakers shared cutting-edge research and policy insights. On-site presenters included Mr. Christoffer Grønstad, Senior Policy Advisor at NIVA; Ambassador M. Wahid Supriyadi from the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Indonesia; and Mr. Permana Yudiarsom from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia. Virtual presenters comprised Professor Jorge Emmanuel representing the Scientists’ Coalition Philippines; Prof. Dr. Hideshige Takada of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan; Dr. Pham Van Hieu, from Vietnam; and Dr. Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Executive Director of the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Dr. Arisman, Executive Director of CSEAS Indonesia, and Mr. Mubariq Ahmad, Senior Advisor at CSEAS, facilitated lively Q&A sessions that bridged national experiences with technical approaches. On the second day, participants took part in a Focus Group Discussion, and the workshop concluded with wrap-up remarks by Mr. Grønstad.
This workshop was part of the project “Substantive and Equal Participation for an Effective Plastics Treaty,” which aims to ensure that key delegations assume leading roles during negotiations and are empowered to develop and defend robust positions aligned with their specific needs and circumstances. The workshop addressed three main objectives: conducting a situational analysis of the technical issues emerging from INC 5 that must be resolved at INC 5.2; consolidating essential technical and scientific knowledge to support negotiations on complex topics at INC 5.2; and compiling preparatory materials to assist ASEAN delegates ahead of INC 5.2 negotiations. The outcomes of this international workshop will feed directly into the second segment of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) on an international, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution—including in the marine environment—scheduled for August 5–14, 2025, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.