UN Ocean Conference Virtual Event: Preventing Marine Plastic Pollution Through Development Cooperation & Women’s Empowerment

June 28, 2022 (Tuesday) at 8:00 – 9:15 AM (Eastern), 1:00 – 2:15 PM (Lisbon), 8:00 – 9:00 PM (Singapore)

In this virtual UN Ocean Conference side event, speakers from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Tetra Tech—the lead implementer of USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program—the Government of Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning, and Circulate Capital will explore the linkages between development assistance and marine pollution reduction efforts. 

Specifically, participants will emphasize the need for development agency cooperation to strengthen ocean-based economies, how private finance is being leveraged to reach a larger audience to address ocean plastic pollution, and how improving investments in efforts that support SDG5–to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls–can catalyze innovative approaches to the ocean plastic pollution crisis. Globally, women play a critical role in the solid waste management (SWM) and recycling sectors. To both address gender inequality and ocean plastic pollution, partnerships, and collaboration design according to local systems and environments are integral for success.

Watch the event recording here

Opening Remarks

• Mr. Alain de Serres, Director, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Director General Bård Vegar Solhjell, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Panel Speakers

• Ms. Gillian Caldwell, Chief Climate Officer and Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Democracy, Development, and Innovation, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (Moderator)
• Ms. Anna De Chavez, Women in Waste’s Economic and Empowerment Activity Manager, USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean
• Ms. Ellen Martin, Chief Impact Officer, Circulate Capital
• Mr. Jens Sedemund, Head of the Environment and Climate Unit, OECD Development Cooperation Directorate

Closing Remarks

• Ms. Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti (Winny), Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas of the Republic of Indonesia