On March 16, 2021, the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) launched the “Future Leaders’ Declaration on ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for International Marine Plastic Waste” to adopt and present a student-initiated declaration on international marine plastic litter between Japan and the 10 ASEAN member countries. Based on this Declaration, the “ASEAN-Japan Eco School for Marine Plastic Waste Education (“Eco-School Project”)” was created and launched in September 2021 as a pilot project to implement the recommendations in Clause 18 (Education and awareness) and Clause 24 (Youth Engagement) of the Declaration.

The Eco-School Project supports the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (2021-2025) Component III: Public Awareness, Education and Outreach, and aims to further strengthen the partnership between Japan and ASEAN through multi-generational and cross-sectoral collaborations between the youth, educational/academic sector, and governments of ASEAN member states and Japan.

In the culmination of its second year, the Eco-School Project organizes the 2nd International Symposium on ASEAN-Japan Eco-School for Marine Plastic Waste Education, with the participation of selected elementary and high school students from 8 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Japan. The Symposium will feature student-led initiatives on marine plastic waste reduction and conservation of oceans from schools who have received the Eco-school lecture.

This year, the Symposium will also feature the sharing of the baton to “nurture good habits for cleaner oceans” from partner organizations to students of Japan and ASEAN countries. This act signifies a shared commitment to change behaviors and promote a conscious effort to reduce plastic waste among the youth in the region. The Symposium will also feature messages of support from global and regional like-minded partners.

Schedule

Date: Wednesday, 1 March 2023
Time: 14:00-15:30 (JST) 
Place: ASEAN-Japan Centre, Tokyo / Hybrid Event

Agenda

14:00-14:03	Opening and Introduction of the ASEAN-Japan Ecoschool Program (Emcee) Dr. Katrina Navallo, Programme Manager, RPA Cluster
14:04-14:09	Welcome Remarks ASEAN Secretary General (TBC)
14:10-14:13	Opening Remarks: Japan Minister of Environment H.E. NISHIMURA Akihiro (TBC)
14:14-14:24	Session 1: Sharing the Baton to Nurture Good Habits for Cleaner Oceans from Japan to ASEAN countries (TBC)
14:25-15:20	Session 2: Video presentation of local student-led initiatives to reduce marine plastic waste from ASEAN and Japan Japan (3 mins) Brunei Darussalam (3 mins) Cambodia (3 mins) Indonesia (3 mins) Lao PDR (3 mins) Malaysia (3 mins) Myanmar (3 mins) Philippines (3 mins) Thailand (3 mins)
15:21-15:26	Session 3: Message of support from UN Habitat Philippines and ERIA ERIA Regional Knowledge Center for Marine Plastic Debris UN Habitat Philippines (Healthy Oceans and Clean Cities Initiative) (TBC)
15:27-15:30	Pledge of Commitment to Nurture Good Habits for Cleaner Oceans
15:31-15:34	Closing Remarks AJC Secretary General HIRABAYASHI Kunihiko
15:35	Photo session / End of programme

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