THEME
In March 2022, Leaders and Ministers of environment and representatives from the UN member states endorsed a historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly to end plastic pollution by forging an international legally binding agreement by 2024. After two years of negotiations and following the conclusion of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Busan, Republic of Korea, a consensus has still yet to be reached. Against this backdrop, ASEF is pleased to organise, in collaboration with the NGO Alliance to End Plastic Waste, the 2025 ASEF Workshop for Journalists on “Challenges of Dealing with Plastic Waste”. The workshop seeks to facilitate a deeper understanding among journalists of the challenges and responses to managing plastic waste. Through site visits and interactive panel sessions with various stakeholders, the workshop will provide journalists with insights into the complexities of plastic pollution, how it impacts people’s lives and how countries are tackling it. Journalists have a unique ability to reach out to the masses through their media platforms and can in turn contribute to promoting awareness among the public about this critical issue and the significance of a new International Treaty on plastic pollution.
We will invite 20 journalists from Asia and Europe who are working on or interested in environmental protection and, in particular, the issue of plastic waste. They will have the opportunity to engage with experts, NGOs and other stakeholders.
WORKSHOP DURATION AND LOCATION
- The workshop will be conducted from 19 to 22 May 2025 in Singapore
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
The workshop will cover the following topics:
- Overview: State of the International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution
- Circularity
- Full Life Cycle Approach to Plastics
- Equity and Just Transition
- Innovation in Plastic Waste Management
- Financing Plastic Waste Management
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
It will also include site visits to:
- A project in Southeast Asia
-
Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant in Singapore
CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPANTS
Applicants should be:
- A citizen of one of the 51 ASEM partner countries
- A journalist with a proven track record of reporting on environmental issues (applicants must upload examples of their published work related to the workshop theme)
- Proficient in English
- In good health
- Prepared to actively participate in the Workshop
TERMS OF THE WORKSHOP
ASEF will bear the following expenses for successful applicants, thereafter, known as “participants”:
- Workshop fees, including administrative fees and workshop materials
- Accommodation for the duration of the workshop
- Return airfare between the participant’s home country to Singapore
- Participants are strongly advised to purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance, which includes adequate coverage of COVID-19 related expenses and medical evacuation in the event of any unexpected emergencies
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The selection of candidates will be based on merit. Should there be more applicants than available places, we encourage you to apply for our other ASEF media thematic programmes in the future.
All applications must be submitted before 23:59 SGT, 26 January 2025.
