Commonwealth Clean Oceans Forum 2026
Driving Action Across the Commonwealth to Tackle Plastic Pollution
Thursday 25 June 2026
3:45 - 6:30pm
Ismaili Centre, South Kensington
About this Event
Plastic pollution is an escalating global threat, with shared and disproportionate impacts across Commonwealth member states, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Without urgent collective action, the environmental and social costs of plastic waste will continue to rise, placing further strain on vulnerable communities. The Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to respond to this challenge through collaboration, shared learning, and collective advocacy. The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign demonstrates how partnerships across governments, civil society, sport, and youth networks can mobilise communities, reduce plastic waste, and deliver tangible environmental outcomes. As part of London Climate Action Week 2026, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) invites you to the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Forum 2026, a high-level panel discussion convening policymakers, innovators, advocates and partners from across the Commonwealth, to address one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time.
Thematic Focus
This event will explore how collective action across the Commonwealth can drive meaningful progress in tackling plastic pollution. The discussion will focus on: sharing practical solutions and lessons learned from national and regional approaches; addressing policy and implementation challenges, including global frameworks; and highlighting how partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector can scale impactful solutions. The discussion will also emphasise the role of innovation, as well as sport, youth, and community engagement, in driving behavioural change and environmental action, while strengthening collaboration and fostering new partnerships.
Discussion Highlights and Key Topics
The event will explore the challenge of plastic pollution through a Commonwealth-wide lens, focusing on: Lessons learned from national and regional initiatives to reduce plastic use and improve ocean sustainability Policy and governance challenges, including gaps in global frameworks such as plastics treaty negotiations. The role of the Commonwealth in advocating for vulnerable states, disproportionately affected by ocean pollution, particularly SIDS Innovation and private sector leadership to drive sustainable alternatives The contribution of sport, youth, and community engagement in driving environmental action Strengthening cross-sector partnerships to deliver scalable, long-term solutions.
Moderator
Janet Cooper OBE
Janet, Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, brings a wealth of experience across the legal and charitable sectors. She is an Independent Director of the Cabinet Office, Chair of ProShare, and serves on the Development Board of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Janet founded her own legal firm and was formerly a partner at Linklaters. She most recently served as Chair of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and previously sat on the board of UN Women. Janet was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to equality, women’s empowerment, and employee share ownership.
Speakers
Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Richard is Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth. He a leading expert on plastic pollution; his team are at the forefront of research on its impacts and potential interventions. Their work has directly informed policies and was recognised by a Queens Anniversary Prize in 2020. He is a founder member and co-coordinator of the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty; a group of over 400 scientists across 63 countries. Members of the Coalition are free of conflicts of interest with Treaty outcomes and work to supply the best available evidence to inform negotiations.
.jpg)
Laura Clarke OBE
Laura is the CEO of ClientEarth, a legal environmental charity. She joined ClientEarth in September 2022 after two decades in public policy, including diplomatic roles across Africa, Asia and Europe. Her most recent role was British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands, from January 2018 – July 2022. Laura holds an MA in German and Russian from Cambridge University and a MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics. She is married with three children.
.jpg)
Pierre-Yves Paslier
Pierre Paslier is a London-based Innovation Design Engineer who has spent his career exploring the intersection of design and technology. He started his career as a Packaging Engineer for L'Oréal, where he worked during the day and experimented with 3D-printing in his free time. This passion for innovation led him to study design at the Royal College of Art, where he co-designed one of the first consumer delta 3D-printers.After completing his studies, Pierre co-founded two startups: Gravity Sketch, which creates 3D designs in virtual reality, and Notpla, which focuses on developing sustainable packaging. Currently, Pierre is the Co-CEO of Notpla, where he is dedicated to finding solutions to the global plastic crisis through his work on packaging made from seaweed. Notpla won Prince William's £1,000,000 Earthshot Prize in 2022.Pierre has a Masters degree from the RCA's Innovation Design Engineering program and INSA de Lyon. He has written articles for Wired Magazine and given presentations at TEDx conferences in Athens and Warwick. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub and a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of Imperial College London Dyson School of Design Engineering.
Professor Cressida Bowyer
Professor Bowyer is Professor of Arts and Science for Sustainability and Deputy Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth. A biological scientist by training with a background in the arts, her research focuses on addressing global challenges such as air quality, lung health, and plastic pollution through transdisciplinary and participatory methodologies. Professor Bowyer has worked on numerous international projects using arts-based approaches including music, digital storytelling, puppetry, and visual arts to engage communities and develop solutions to global issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also plays a central role in developing global partnerships for the Revolution Plastics Institute, collaborating with NGOs, civil society groups, community organisations, governments, industry, and academic institutions worldwide.
'Ofa Ma'asi-Kaisamy
'Ofa Ma'asi-Kaisamy is an environmental lawyer and climate policy specialist with extensive experience in climate resilience, ocean governance, and environmental policy. She currently serves as the Commonwealth Blue Charter Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat supporting member countries to advance sustainable ocean governance and blue economy initiatives. Prior to joining the Commonwealth, she was leading the strategic and operational delivery of the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) Pacific Climate Change Centre | Pacific Environment hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Home | Pacific Environment where she oversaw the Centre’s rapid growth from a USD 2.3 million portfolio to USD 25 million within five years under her leadership. Kaisamy holds a Master of Laws in Environmental Law from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the South Pacific, and a Diploma in Ocean Law and Policy from the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy in Greece.
Why Attend
This event offers a unique platform to: Engage with leaders shaping global environmental policy and practice Explore partnership opportunities within the Commonwealth network Contribute to scaling impactful solutions to plastic pollution Support the next phase of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign (2025–2030) About the Royal Commonwealth Society The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) connects a diverse network of organisations and individuals across the Commonwealth and beyond, who are all committed to promoting the Commonwealth’s core values of democracy, equality, sustainability, and mutual respect. Through its programmes and partnerships, the RCS is committed to building a more connected, sustainable, and prosperous Commonwealth by bringing together governments, civil society, businesses, and young people to address shared global challenges.