Singapore, 2–3 June 2026 – The Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP) convened the Second Technical Consultation to Develop the Regional Guidebook on Financial Mechanisms for Investments in Plastic Waste Management in Singapore, in a hybrid format.

Building on the outcomes of the First Technical Consultation held in December 2025, the consultation brought together representatives from seven ASEAN Member States (AMS), the ASEAN Secretariat, and technical experts to gather and exchange feedback on the first draft of the Regional Guidebook. The Regional Guidebook on Financial Mechanisms for Investments in Plastic Waste Management aims to support AMS in promoting investments in sustainable plastic waste management through effective financial mechanisms and instruments.

The Consultation commenced with welcome remarks by Mr. Jason Cheng, Deputy Director of the National Environment Agency of Singapore, in his capacity as representative of the host country, and opening remarks by Mr. (Atty.) Felix S. Alicer, Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines via video conference, in his capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME) and Co-Chair of the SEA-MaP Project Steering Committee (PSC).

The remarks highlighted the importance of strengthening innovative conservation financing approaches, including payment for ecosystem services (PES), and combining environmental policies with market-based financing mechanisms to support a sustainable and circular economy in ASEAN. The message further underscored the need for regional cooperation in addressing marine plastic pollution and advancing shared sustainable investment approaches across the region.

Over the two-day consultation, participants exchanged views on the draft Guidebook’s guiding principles, roadmap structure, supporting materials, and practical application across different national contexts. Discussions also explored implementation considerations, institutional readiness, cross-sector coordination, and ASEAN’s role in supporting the selection and scaling of financial mechanisms for plastic waste management.

The feedback received during the consultation will inform the refinement of the Regional Guidebook and its accompanying communication products. The revised draft will be presented at the subsequent consultation scheduled for July 2026.

The event was facilitated by KPMG Singapore, in coordination with the SEA-MaP Regional Implementation Support Unit (RISU) under UNOPS and the Project Management Unit (PMU).

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Relevant event(s):

• First Technical Consultation, 3-4 December 2025 in Singapore: Advancing Financing Solutions for Plastic Waste Management in ASEAN