Maggie Lee | United Nations (original) (raw)
Papers by Maggie Lee
Ocean and Coastal Management, 2021
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12: Responsible consumption and production and 14: Life Below... more Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12: Responsible consumption and production and 14: Life Below Water coincide in the targeting of the problem of plastic pollution. The problem has been garnering immense media attention in the recent years. Efforts to reduce unnecessary plastic consumption have been seen in social movements, in corporate policies and most noticeably, in regulatory control in the form of bans for specific types of single-use plastic items. A paradox exists as, arguably, civilization cannot sustain its current developmental momentum without the use of plastics, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic demanding higher levels of protection and hygiene. An ideal goal for the transformation of the plastic value chain is the concept of circular economythe complete return of post-consumer plastic waste (PCPW) for repeated re-consumption after recovery and recycling processes. Hence, corporate engagement to manage the plastic value chain in ways that commit to the creation of circular economies is crucial. While reduction and substitution are being pursued, the current scale of the plastic production is still expected to remain the same or increase for the next few years as life cycle assessments (LCA), test trials of consumer acceptance towards novel delivery mechanisms and other forms of innovation are emerging. The reduction of plastics in the private-sector is allegedly ongoing but still intangible in Asia as daily lives continue to rely heavily on single-use plastics and large amounts of plastic packaging. While recovery and collection innovations are underway for application and are picking up speed, there is still an unfathomable amount of marine litter entering waterways, which aggravates the bigger-than-ever problem of plastic pollution in Asia. Responsible production has long adopted the concept of credits. Carbon credits are the most notable one, while palm oil credits are also prominently purchased by manufacturers to offset any palm oil content that is not yet sourced from certified sustainable suppliers. The concept of credits for plastics is currently sporadically seen across the world, especially in developing regions of Asia, but remains much less explored than their counterparts for other commodities. "Plastic neutrality" or "net plastic circularity" in the form of credit purchasing by businesses could likely be the final missing piece of the puzzle picturing a circular economy, especially as an interim measure and later as a component to be integrated into existing and upcoming extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. In theory, the credit system could serve as an offsetting mechanism to recover an equivalent or higher amount of plastics to be produced by the credit-purchasing responsible manufacturer. This paper explores how responsible plastic production, accounting, recovery and offsetting could be enabled through standardized plastic credits, similar to the existing carbon and sustainable palm oil credit systems, could be applied in Asia to achieve the goal of recovery of plastics for circularity.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2020
The current situation observed in the seafood industry demonstrates that responsible and certifie... more The current situation observed in the seafood industry demonstrates that responsible and certified seafood produced in Asia as well as other developing regions is often exported out to Western markets such as Europe and the US, due to a higher demand and higher willingness to pay. This renders responsible and certified seafood to be shipped out of Asia and results in a market where responsible and certified seafood is systematically underrepresented. Hence, the lack of supply of responsible seafood from regional sources has hindered companies’ efforts to source responsibly, despite a commitment to do so.
With Asia’s increasing disposable income and growing awareness by consumers for responsible and certified seafood, greater opportunities can be leveraged upon by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to increase the supply and demand of responsible seafood in the region.
The Responsible Seafood Tool (RESET) is developed as WWF believes that there is opportunity for change in empowering businesses in Asia to source more responsibly, particularly for a local favourite - seafood. Responsible seafood sourcing helps to reduce negative consequences to the environment, in the form of biodiversity loss, seascape degradation, and resource depletion, as well as to reduce lost livelihoods displaced by depleted fishstock or polluted landscapes and seascapes. The tool seeks to lower the barriers for businesses to source for responsible seafood, and to directly mobilize improved management and performance of fisheries and aquaculture in Asia.
In a nutshell, RESET aims to provide easy access to the supply of responsible seafood for interested buyers, while also supporting Asian aquaculture and fisheries by providing business incentives for certification. Seafood buyers enjoy the access of a variety of responsible seafood from Asia, at the same time, they enable WWF to propel responsible seafood producers along their journey to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 2018
While corporate sustainability is attaining more spotlight, the role environmental nongovernmenta... more While corporate sustainability is attaining more spotlight, the role environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) play in corporate sustainability programs (CSPs) continues to be ambivalent. Some ENGOs take on policing roles towards CSPs, whereas others form “Green Alliances” with corporations to enhance their CSPs. This
paper takes a deep dive into CSPs, ENGOs, and communication problems associated with CSPs, namely, reporting inadequacies and greenwashing. Potential angles from which ENGOs can help foster or enhance corporate sustainability are then identified and examined.
This empirical study examines several factors to improve corporate sustainability through partnerships with ENGOs. From the survey results, the top areas in which ENGOs can influence CSPs are determined—these include external value creation and the identification and monitoring of corporate negative environmental impact.
There is evidence found in support of a correlation between trust in ENGOs and the perceived effectiveness of Green Alliances.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) possesses a burgeoning identity as more develo... more The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) possesses a burgeoning identity as more developed member states such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia take on leadership roles in defining local and regional regulations. While the conglomeration of nations in the region are organized in a similar fashion to that of the European Union, the environmental policies of the two regions are drastically different in applicability and enforcement. Recently, ASEAN sprung into prominence as foreign and local investment helped develop these nations, enabling the region to successfully claim a seat in the congregation of significant economic powers in the Asia Pacific region. This effect is even more amplified as the economies of some of the more developed nations in Asia, such as Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, are seeing slower growth. How is the ASEAN contributing to environmental preservation as an ecologically significant region? Where does the ASEAN currently stand in terms of regulatory stringency and legal system framework? How is the ASEAN enforcing policies created for environmental protection?
Keywords: ASEAN, environmental governance, regulatory, enforcement, effectiveness, regional governance
Ocean and Coastal Management, 2021
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12: Responsible consumption and production and 14: Life Below... more Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12: Responsible consumption and production and 14: Life Below Water coincide in the targeting of the problem of plastic pollution. The problem has been garnering immense media attention in the recent years. Efforts to reduce unnecessary plastic consumption have been seen in social movements, in corporate policies and most noticeably, in regulatory control in the form of bans for specific types of single-use plastic items. A paradox exists as, arguably, civilization cannot sustain its current developmental momentum without the use of plastics, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic demanding higher levels of protection and hygiene. An ideal goal for the transformation of the plastic value chain is the concept of circular economythe complete return of post-consumer plastic waste (PCPW) for repeated re-consumption after recovery and recycling processes. Hence, corporate engagement to manage the plastic value chain in ways that commit to the creation of circular economies is crucial. While reduction and substitution are being pursued, the current scale of the plastic production is still expected to remain the same or increase for the next few years as life cycle assessments (LCA), test trials of consumer acceptance towards novel delivery mechanisms and other forms of innovation are emerging. The reduction of plastics in the private-sector is allegedly ongoing but still intangible in Asia as daily lives continue to rely heavily on single-use plastics and large amounts of plastic packaging. While recovery and collection innovations are underway for application and are picking up speed, there is still an unfathomable amount of marine litter entering waterways, which aggravates the bigger-than-ever problem of plastic pollution in Asia. Responsible production has long adopted the concept of credits. Carbon credits are the most notable one, while palm oil credits are also prominently purchased by manufacturers to offset any palm oil content that is not yet sourced from certified sustainable suppliers. The concept of credits for plastics is currently sporadically seen across the world, especially in developing regions of Asia, but remains much less explored than their counterparts for other commodities. "Plastic neutrality" or "net plastic circularity" in the form of credit purchasing by businesses could likely be the final missing piece of the puzzle picturing a circular economy, especially as an interim measure and later as a component to be integrated into existing and upcoming extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. In theory, the credit system could serve as an offsetting mechanism to recover an equivalent or higher amount of plastics to be produced by the credit-purchasing responsible manufacturer. This paper explores how responsible plastic production, accounting, recovery and offsetting could be enabled through standardized plastic credits, similar to the existing carbon and sustainable palm oil credit systems, could be applied in Asia to achieve the goal of recovery of plastics for circularity.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2020
The current situation observed in the seafood industry demonstrates that responsible and certifie... more The current situation observed in the seafood industry demonstrates that responsible and certified seafood produced in Asia as well as other developing regions is often exported out to Western markets such as Europe and the US, due to a higher demand and higher willingness to pay. This renders responsible and certified seafood to be shipped out of Asia and results in a market where responsible and certified seafood is systematically underrepresented. Hence, the lack of supply of responsible seafood from regional sources has hindered companies’ efforts to source responsibly, despite a commitment to do so.
With Asia’s increasing disposable income and growing awareness by consumers for responsible and certified seafood, greater opportunities can be leveraged upon by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to increase the supply and demand of responsible seafood in the region.
The Responsible Seafood Tool (RESET) is developed as WWF believes that there is opportunity for change in empowering businesses in Asia to source more responsibly, particularly for a local favourite - seafood. Responsible seafood sourcing helps to reduce negative consequences to the environment, in the form of biodiversity loss, seascape degradation, and resource depletion, as well as to reduce lost livelihoods displaced by depleted fishstock or polluted landscapes and seascapes. The tool seeks to lower the barriers for businesses to source for responsible seafood, and to directly mobilize improved management and performance of fisheries and aquaculture in Asia.
In a nutshell, RESET aims to provide easy access to the supply of responsible seafood for interested buyers, while also supporting Asian aquaculture and fisheries by providing business incentives for certification. Seafood buyers enjoy the access of a variety of responsible seafood from Asia, at the same time, they enable WWF to propel responsible seafood producers along their journey to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 2018
While corporate sustainability is attaining more spotlight, the role environmental nongovernmenta... more While corporate sustainability is attaining more spotlight, the role environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) play in corporate sustainability programs (CSPs) continues to be ambivalent. Some ENGOs take on policing roles towards CSPs, whereas others form “Green Alliances” with corporations to enhance their CSPs. This
paper takes a deep dive into CSPs, ENGOs, and communication problems associated with CSPs, namely, reporting inadequacies and greenwashing. Potential angles from which ENGOs can help foster or enhance corporate sustainability are then identified and examined.
This empirical study examines several factors to improve corporate sustainability through partnerships with ENGOs. From the survey results, the top areas in which ENGOs can influence CSPs are determined—these include external value creation and the identification and monitoring of corporate negative environmental impact.
There is evidence found in support of a correlation between trust in ENGOs and the perceived effectiveness of Green Alliances.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) possesses a burgeoning identity as more develo... more The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) possesses a burgeoning identity as more developed member states such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia take on leadership roles in defining local and regional regulations. While the conglomeration of nations in the region are organized in a similar fashion to that of the European Union, the environmental policies of the two regions are drastically different in applicability and enforcement. Recently, ASEAN sprung into prominence as foreign and local investment helped develop these nations, enabling the region to successfully claim a seat in the congregation of significant economic powers in the Asia Pacific region. This effect is even more amplified as the economies of some of the more developed nations in Asia, such as Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, are seeing slower growth. How is the ASEAN contributing to environmental preservation as an ecologically significant region? Where does the ASEAN currently stand in terms of regulatory stringency and legal system framework? How is the ASEAN enforcing policies created for environmental protection?
Keywords: ASEAN, environmental governance, regulatory, enforcement, effectiveness, regional governance