The role of nuclear science and technology in helping countries tackle the global challenge of plastic pollution is the focus of a major IAEA event that opened on Tuesday in Manila. The International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics will showcase concrete results achieved by this flagship initiative launched by the IAEA in 2020.
Hosted by the Government of the Philippines from 25 to 26 November, the forum will highlight progress, identify challenges and chart a course for the future of NUTEC Plastics. The opening ceremony of the event was attended by the President of the Philippines, President of the Asian Development Bank and Director General of the IAEA.
“NUTEC Plastics embodies the kind of innovation we need — solutions that merge advanced nuclear applications with environmental protection and translate scientific progress into tangible benefits for industry and society. Our scientific institutions here in the Philippines have embraced this challenge, building on the strength of international scientific cooperation,” said Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, in his keynote address.
“NUTEC Plastics is driving innovation in monitoring plastics in the ocean and in turning plastic waste into useful products,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “Looking at plastic pollution from the atomic level allows us to understand microplastic pollution and its movements through marine ecosystems, which supports well-informed policy decisions to deal with it. And by using irradiation we can reduce the amount of plastic waste by turning it into valuable products like building materials.”
“To solve a problem of this scale, science must be paired with financing and policy,” said Masato Kanda, president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the forum’s opening session. “Here in the Philippines, ADB is planning a $1 billion program to develop a sustainable and resilient blue economy. Complementing this, we are harnessing digital solutions to simulate the flow of plastic pollution in the Pasig River to help rejuvenate this important waterway. We are also deepening our collaboration with the IAEA across the board: from food security to energy transition.”
NUTEC Plastics presently works with 53 countries to improve plastic recycling and develop bio-based plastics, and with 102 countries to monitor marine microplastic pollution.
The forum brings together government officials, scientists, policy makers and representatives from the private sector, international financial institutions and multilateral organizations from across Asia and the Pacific and beyond.
A ministerial segment will spotlight how countries are tackling plastic pollution, setting the stage for solutions-driven discussions. Representatives of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Asian Development Bank will also share their insights and expertise. Adding to the momentum, young experts will take the floor to share their perspectives on how nuclear science can help turn the tide on the plastic pollution crisis. The event is broadcast live here.
