Coral Triangle Nations Convene for Pivotal Talks on…

Coral Triangle Nations Convene for Pivotal Talks on Groundbreaking Regional Strategy to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution

Bali, 8 July - Government officials, NGOs, and technical experts from across the Coral Triangle region convened this week for a landmark meeting for the development of a comprehensive regional strategy to address waste management issues in the world's most biodiverse marine ecosystem. The gathering marks a pivotal moment in regional collaboration, aligning local efforts with global commitments made during The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) against the escalating plastic waste crisis threatening coral reefs, fisheries, and coastal communities across six nations.

The meeting is part of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF)'s Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) 2.0, Target A2: Threatened Species; Regional Activity A2.1, and was convened in partnership with WWF. The discussions are centered around addressing the growing crisis of plastic waste-currently 13 million tonnes entering the oceans annually, a figure set to nearly double by 2040 without action. The Coral Triangle spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, home to 76% of the world's coral species, yet the region also ranks among the highest contributors to marine plastic leakage rates.

Addressing the Root Causes of Marine Plastic Pollution in One of the World's Most Vulnerable Marine Regions

The meeting aimed to identify key drivers of marine plastic pollution and explore pathways for regional cooperation. Research by WWF and CTI-CFF highlighted that mismanaged waste, insufficient infrastructure, weak policy frameworks, and unsustainable production models are major contributors to the crisis, with small islands and coastal communities facing particular challenges.

"This meeting is the first step in what we hope will be a sustained, region-wide effort to tackle plastic pollution," said Dr. Frank Keith Griffin, Executive Director of CTI-CFF. "The Coral Triangle Initiative is a powerful platform to bring together various regional action plans and foster collaboration, sharing strategies that have proven effective across the ASEAN and Pacific regions."

The discussions focused on shifting from downstream waste management to upstream prevention, emphasizing the need for systemic change. Research indicates that transitioning from a linear to a circular economy could prevent between 2.2 and 5.9 million tonnes of plastic from entering the oceans annually from Coral Triangle nations alone.

Developing a Collaborative Regional Approach

The regional strategy is still in its formative stages, with discussions focusing on key areas of intervention organized into four central themes:

1. Governance & Policy Strengthening
2. Capacity Building & Technology Transfer
3. Funding & Market Access
4. Cross-Sectoral Collaboration

Key topics of discussion included policy reforms to phase out harmful single-use plastics, adopting extended producer responsibility, strengthening waste management infrastructure, and creating knowledge-sharing platforms for local communities.

"The diversity of challenges in the region demands solutions that are locally adapted and driven by community engagement," said Klaas Jan Teule, WWF Coral Triangle Programme Leader. "This meeting is an important step in forging multi-stakeholder partnerships that will enable us to share knowledge and scale successful models."

Local Solutions and Successful Case Studies

Initial discussions also underscored the importance of community-led solutions, with case studies from the region demonstrating how local initiatives can drive meaningful change. These include:

• Waste management programs in Indonesia's marine protected areas
• Circular economy models in coastal communities in the Philippines

These examples illustrate the value of integrating waste management with local economic activities-such as community recycling centers, waste banks, tourism, and fisheries-while establishing sustainable financing models to ensure long-term success. Successful waste management initiatives in marine protected areas, often located on remote small islands, also emphasize the need to link local efforts with broader circular economy infrastructure.

"The transboundary nature of marine plastic pollution requires coordinated action, a multi-stakeholder approach, and efforts to build the capacity of local communities to implement local solutions," noted Ms. Rili Djohani, Executive Director of the Coral Triangle Center. "This strategy recognises that effective solutions must address the needs of local communities while strengthening the entire waste management value chain-from prevention and responsible disposal to recovery and reuse."

Next Steps: Moving Towards Implementation

While the meeting was focused on initial brainstorming, there was consensus on several next steps. The strategy will eventually be integrated into CTI-CFF's RPOA 2.0 and a long-term, 10-year capacity-building roadmap. Implementation will focus on supporting coastal cities, tourism centers, and marine protected areas critical to marine biodiversity conservation, contributing to the regional goal of protecting 30% of coastal and marine waters by 2030.

The participants emphasised that successful implementation of the strategy will require ongoing political commitment, financial investment, and multi-sectoral cooperation. The proposed framework aligns with global goals such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water and contributes directly to the global 30x30 goal as well as to the broader international movement for a global plastic pollution treaty.

The meeting concluded with commitments to developing national action plans, setting up regional monitoring systems, and creating mechanisms for continued knowledge-sharing and technical support. Follow-up activities will include targeted capacity-building workshops and the establishment of financing mechanisms to support community-driven solutions.

As the Coral Triangle nations move forward with this collaborative strategy, the path ahead is clear: united action, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment are crucial to safeguarding this vital marine ecosystem for future generations. The time to act is now, and the collective strength of these nations will be the driving force in turning the tide against marine plastic pollution.

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Note to media: Quotes included in this release are attributable to the individuals named and should not be attributed to the media contact listed below. For interview requests or further comment, please coordinate with the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat.

About the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF)

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries-Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste-working together to protect the Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. Often called the "Amazon of the Seas," the Coral Triangle is home to 76% of the world's known coral species (over 600 species of reef-building corals) and 37% of the world's reef fish species, supporting the livelihoods and food security of more than 130 million people.

Through its Regional Plan of Action (RPOA 2.0), CTI-CFF drives regional collaboration to conserve coral reefs, expand marine protected areas, ensure sustainable fisheries, and build resilience to climate change. The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, based in Manado, Indonesia, coordinates this collective effort-bringing together governments, partners, and communities to advance a healthy, resilient, and inclusive blue economy across the Coral Triangle.

For more inquiries & information:

Fritzgerald Wenur, Marketing & Information Officer, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
E: [email protected] // www.coraltriangleinitiative.org

Kimberly Chung, Communication & Information Manager, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
E: [email protected] // www.coraltriangleinitiative.org