The environment ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) agreed on 15th June, 2019, establishing a new global-scale framework targeting marine plastic waste. The meeting, hosted in Karuizawa, northwest of Tokyo, was a precursor to the G20 summit held in Osaka, Japan, on 28th and 29th June of the same year. The newly proposed framework focuses on driving further action against marine waste, building upon the G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter introduced at the 2017 G20 Hamburg Summit in Germany.
New Framework: Voluntary Approach Towards Marine Waste
The strategic focus of the new framework centers around prevention and reduction of plastic litter discharging into oceans. This considerable task is to be achieved through a comprehensive life-cycle approach. However, these measures are voluntary, aiming to encourage G20 members to actively participate. Through this collaborative effort, the framework seeks effective international cooperation not just to combat the existing issue but also to inhibit future marine pollution.
Promoting Best Practices and Innovation
In addition to the implementation of preventive measures, G20 members are expected to share best practices, promote innovative solutions and reinforce scientific monitoring and analytical methodologies. These methods are essential for data-driven policies and to measure progress effectively. Moreover, Japan, the host country of the meetings, offered to coordinate the inaugural meet under this new framework when environmental ministers from G20 countries gather for the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue.
The G20 Summit: A Multidimensional Platform
The G20 Summit, officially known as the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, is more than a financial discussion platform. It covers a broad spectrum of issues impacting the global economy, including development, energy, climate change, health, counter-terrorism and even migration and refugees. The host country of the G20 summit, in this case, Japan, manages the group for one year, from December through to the following November, a term known as the G20 presidency. This role encompasses organizing ministerial and relevant working group meetings.
| Country | First Time Hosting G20 Presidency |
|---|---|
| Argentina | No |
| Australia | No |
| Brazil | No |
| Canada | No |
| Japan | Yes |
The G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter and Resource Efficiency Dialogue
The G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter comprises seven high-level policy principles aimed at preventing marine litter and promoting sustainable waste management. The approach includes wastewater treatment, awareness and education, remediation activities, and stakeholder engagement.
Furthermore, the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue, established at the Hamburg summit in 2017, aimed to make the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources a core element of the G20 discussions, enhancing the focus on environmental issues even further.
