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On May 31, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a Ministerial Council on Marine Plastic Litter, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on the draft action plan for countermeasures to plastic waste in the oceans.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“The issue of plastic waste in the oceans is one of the major themes of the G20 Osaka Summit to be held this year. A worldwide effort is necessary to solve this issue. It is required that the world shares the same vision, and each country implements effective and concrete measures towards it. As the President of the G20 Osaka Summit, I intend that Japan exercise its leadership towards the resolution of global issues.
 
To begin with, as the old saying goes ‘start rom yourself.’ Since yesterday, a zero waste week has begun and waste collection activities have been held around coastal areas, riversides and towns across the country. In addition to that, Japan needs to exert all possible measures to this end such as enhancing the collection and processing of marine litter with a wide array of support from fishermen, and the development and mass-production of bioplastics, which are degradable in the oceans.
 
Furthermore, we intend to lead worldwide efforts strongly by fully utilizing our experiences and technologies in our efforts to contribute to the world, such as extending support to capacity building of developing countries, and to understand the actual situation both domestically and globally.
 
I ask the relevant ministers to work on this issue thoroughly, following the action plan we have approved today, towards a world in which we no longer produce pollutants.”