CN
24 December 2024
From December 12th to 17th, 2024, members of UNEP-IEMP participated in the launch meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange (NSFC-UNEP) Project "Land-Sea Migration Patterns of Plastic Waste in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin and Strategies for Pollution Reduction and Carbon Emission Reduction" in Bangkok, Thailand. They also joined a five-day research activity. On December 13th, the project launch meeting was successfully held in Bangkok, gathering experts and scholars from China and other countries to discuss the migration patterns of plastic waste in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin, pollution control, and effective ways to reduce pollution and carbon emissions. It also further discussed future research directions and cooperation models. As part of the project team, UNEP-IEMP also further investigated the situation in the Thai society and enterprises through field research on plastic waste management. From December 14th to 16th, the team visited demonstration bases for plastic waste management in Thailand to gain a detailed understanding of the collection, processing, and recycling processes of plastic waste. In addition, the team engaged in in-depth discussions with the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on international cooperation and policy support for plastic waste management. This research activity not only deepened the UNEP-IEMP members' understanding of the plastic waste issues in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin but also laid a solid foundation for the smooth progress of the project and international cooperation. UNEP-IEMP would actively draw on Thailand's advanced experience in plastic waste management, combine it with the situation in China, and promote substantial progress in plastic waste management in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin. As the project further progresses, UNEP-IEMP will continue to strengthen cooperation with the countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin to jointly address the environmental challenges posed by plastic waste and contribute to regional green development. Team visited the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment In addition, UNEP-IEMP also met with research team of the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand. Both parties discussed and exchanged views on the development and sustainability assessment of the bamboo industry in Thailand and China, the potential opportunities of using bamboo as a substitute for plastic and future cooperation.
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