The Malaysian and Australian Governments signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), and agreed to explore cooperation in solving marine plastic pollution, improving waste management, and creating a circular economy. In supporting the endeavor, two online workshops have been planned for 2022, to begin the dialogue between Australian and Malaysian academic institutions, Government and non-Government agencies, and industry players to address marine debris and plastic pollution. These workshops will address issues of strategic importance to Malaysia and the region, and where Australian institutions have leading capacity and knowledge to contribute policy, technical, and/or business solutions.

Theme 1: Monitoring mechanisms to support the regional and global agenda (10th Aug 2022)
Theme 2: Waste handling, materials recovery, and advanced recycling (14-15 Sept. 2022)

The Malaysia – Australia Dialogue will provide an opportunity for stakeholders across the plastics ecosystem to discuss and collaborate on finding solutions to the marine plastic pollution problem. This forum recognises that marine plastic pollution is a transnational issue, with stakeholders across Governments, industry, non-governmental organisations, and communities. Consequently, marine plastic monitoring programmes must be considered legitimate by all stakeholders, and monitoring design and methods must also be scientifically rigorous and efficiently applied to determine change over time of a) the abundance, distribution, and composition of plastic pollution, b) the sources of plastic pollution, and c) environmental and economic impacts of plastic pollution. Coordination of data management and reporting across multiple jurisdictions must be addressed.

This forum will also support further the various efforts undertaken at the national and regional levels on the area including i.e.,