BANGKOK, THAILAND – The regional initiative “Enhancing the Science–Policy Interface to Manage Microplastic Influx from Major Cities into the Oceans in Southeast Asia,” funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), convened an online progress meeting on 10 February 2026 via Zoom. Research partners from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia met to review technical progress, align methodologies, and coordinate upcoming activities.
Led by Dr. Wenchao Xue of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the meeting highlighted updates from the three pilot cities—Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Jakarta. In Bangkok, field sampling is nearing completion. Ho Chi Minh City has completed fieldwork and most laboratory analyses. Jakarta has finalized atmospheric deposition sampling and continues industrial wastewater and agricultural runoff sampling. The team also reviewed progress under the Source–Pathway–Receptor (SPR) framework, with secondary data collection targeted for completion by April 2026.
Preparations for the upcoming one-day virtual workshop on 7 April 2026 were discussed. The event is expected to feature around 12 expert speakers. Partner institutions will support speaker nominations and promotion, while the organizing team will coordinate invitations and finalize the agenda. Publication plans were also reviewed, including manuscript development and APN bulletin.
The meeting reaffirmed the partners’ commitment to strengthening the science–policy interface on microplastic pollution in Southeast Asia and advancing evidence-based urban environmental management across the region.
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