China Institute for Marine Affairs (CIMA)

ST 1.6 How PEMSEA Network Can be Reinforced? (A multi-layered ocean governance methodologies)

Overview

In the East Asia region, there is a wide variety of political, economic, and social systems. It is composed of some of the most heavily populated cities and countries in the world. From the perspective of the ocean, the region is characterized not only with its unique marine and coastal settings, such as large marine ecosystems, island chains, vast gulfs, and crowded straits, but also commercially important fishing and mariculture grounds and rich offshore mineral resources such as gas and oil. However, the rapid economic development and massive population growth in the region have inevitably resulted in enormous pressures on the marine environment and its resources.

Various issues of ocean governance should be considered to enforce the resilience of the Seas of East Asia, including the development speed and phase of institutional frameworks, the suitable and executable assessment tool, and the implementation regime in the field. Especially multi-layered ocean governance of regional-national-local methodologies should be implemented.

In this session, we will first present an overview of regional governance models around the world and scale down to national case studies on coastal management in Japan, China, RO Korea and Southeast Asian countries. Second, we will consider coastal governance methodology from the view of local community engagement from a bottom-up perspective of governance and should provide a shared future and a role for voluntary participation by stakeholders. Finally, a panel discussion will be held to discuss how we can implement holistic and inclusive ocean governance in the Seas of East Asia with these characteristics. A multi-layered ocean governance will be introduced as a methodology to fill the gap between top-down and bottom-up governance.

Program

TIME AGENDA
14:30 – 14:35 Moderator

  • Dr. Xiang Gao, Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
14:35 – 14:38 Opening Remarks

  • Dr. Haiwen Zhang, Former Director General, China Institute for Marine Affairs
14:38 – 15:38 Regional Sea Governance and the Role of the Epistemic Community

  • Dr. Xiang Gao (Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation)

What is Coastal Zone: Definition and Range

  • Dr. Zhengyi Liu (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The Best Practices of Coast Management in Southeast Asia Countries

  • TBD

Promoting ICM in Tokyo Bay: Exercise of Social Transformation to Achieve
an Inclusive Society with Stakeholders

  • Dr. Keita Furukawa (COAST CARD Japan)

The Practices of Coastal Management in Xiamen

  • Professor Benrong Peng (Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University)

Dynamic Evolution of Coastal and Marine Spatial Policy Regime of RO Korea

  • Dr. Jungho Nam (Korea Maritime Institute)
15:38 – 16:18 Panel Discussion

  • Dr. Xiang Gao (Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation)
  • Dr. Zhengyi Liu (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
  • TBD
  • Dr. Keita Furukawa (COAST CARD Japan)
  • Professor Benrong Peng (Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University)
  • Dr. Jungho Nam (Korea Maritime Institute)
16:18 – 16:30
  • Q&A and Open Forum
26 August, 2024

ST 4.2: Seminar on Blue Carbon Policy, Regulation and Technology

Overview

In recent years, the global economic landscape has increasingly prioritized a green and low-carbon transition. The urgent challenges of global warming and implications of climate change have galvanized collective action, leading to the political commitments of achieving carbon neutrality in the mid of the century in order to bridge the gap between their emission reduction targets and the overarching goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial level. While many countries have articulated their commitments through policy announcements, there remains a significant shortfall in concrete implementation and actionable measures to back these ambitious promises.

The pressing challenges of climate change necessitate innovative solutions and collaborative efforts across diverse sectors and regions. Coastal and marine ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating climate impacts, particularly through carbon sequestration, yet they are often undervalued and underfunded within climate action frameworks. The Mediterranean region, characterized by its unique biodiversity and socio-economic complexities, offers a vital context for examining climate policies and potential opportunities. Countries like China, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Japan are leading the way in blue carbon initiatives, demonstrating effective practices for sustainable management and conservation. PEMSEA is working towards a blue carbon certification initiative to incentivize conservation, restoration and management of blue carbon ecosystem at regional level.

This seminar aims to get together experts from various fields to exchange insights and best practices on legal, policy, and financial mechanisms to enhance blue carbon ecosystems and ocean negative carbon emissions as ocean-based climate solutions. By exchanging knowledge and practices of current state and future prospects of blue carbon initiatives, the program seeks to stimulate collaboration and foster discussions towards developing innovative strategies to enhance climate resilience in coastal regions. The seminar will specifically focus on marine carbon sinks, exploring relevant policies, laws, and blue carbon accounting methodologies that can ensure the sustainable development of blue carbon resources while achieving co-benefits of climate mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.

Objectives

  1. Explore Legal and Policy Frameworks: Assess the current laws and policies to facilitate climate action in various Mediterranean and East Asian contexts, highlighting opportunities for improvement and adaptation.
  2. Share Regional Insights: Present the status of blue carbon initiatives in specific countries, including China, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Japan, to showcase successful practices and potential challenges.
  3. Facilitate Knowledge Exchange: Encourage dialogue among experts, researchers, and policymakers to share best practices and innovative approaches to blue carbon sequestration and ecosystem management.
  4. Discuss Financial Modalities: Identify and evaluate financing options and mechanisms that can support blue carbon programs and initiatives, focusing on sustainable investment strategies.
  5. Promote Certification Standards: Examine the role of blue carbon certification in incentivizing conservation efforts and explore frameworks for effective implementation.
  6. Encourage Collaborative Efforts: Foster partnerships between countries and organizations to enhance regional cooperation and collective action in addressing climate change through blue carbon initiatives.

Through these objectives, the seminar aims to create a comprehensive understanding of the interface between climate policy, economic viability, and environmental stewardship, ultimately contributing to more effective climate action in the two regions.

Programme:

 

TIME AGENDA
1430 – 1445

 

 Introduction

Moderator:

  • Prof. Zhang Haiwen, former Director, CIMA

Opening remarks

  • Dr. Xu Guodong, Director, NMHMS-MNR
  • Mr. Pan Xinchun, Vice President and Secretary-General, CODF
  • Dr. Keita Furukawa, Technical Session Chair, PEMSEA
Policy Session

  • Moderator：Mr. Guo Yinfeng, Chief Expert for International Cooperation, NMHMS-MNR
1445 – 1455 Presentation 1: Law, Policy and Opportunities in Climate Action – Recent Initiatives from a Mediterranean Island

  • Dr. Anthoine Grima, University of Malta
1455 – 1505 Presentation 2: Blue Carbon Sequestration and Associated Environmental Policies in Sri Lanka: Current Status and Future Perspectives

  • Prof. Dimuthu Wijeyaratne University of Kelaniya
1505 – 1515

 

 Presentation 3: Low Carbon and Resilient Mauritius

  • Prof. Kishore Boodhoo, University of Mauritius
1515 – 1525

 

 Presentation 4: Japan Blue Carbon Credit (J-Blue Credit®) Implementation and the Policy Directions

  • Dr. Atsushi Watanabe, OPRI-SPF/Japan Blue Economy Association (JBE)
1525 – 1535 Presentation 5: Marine CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) Technologies: Global Analysis of Principles, Participation, and Prospects

  • Prof. Guanqiong Ye, Zhejiang University
1535 – 1545 Presentation 6: International Legal Regulation of Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions and China’s Response

  • Prof. Yitong Chen, Ocean University of China
1545 – 1605 Panel discussion
1605 – 1620 Tea break
Technology Session

Moderator：Dr. Keita Furukawa, Technical Session Chair, PEMSEA
1620 – 1630

 

 Presentation 7: Blue Carbon Market Assessment: Some Insights of the Demand in Asia

  • Dr. Michael Abundo, OceanPixel
1630 – 1640 Presentation 8: Recent Development in Blue Carbon Monitoring and Accounting in PR China

  • Dr. Yuxing Wang, National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, Ministry of Natural Resources (NMHMS-MNR), China
1640 – 1700 Presentation 9:  Building a Unified Approach for Blue Carbon Accounting in East and Southeast Asia: Progress and Future Directions,

  • Ms. Kristina Di Ticman, PEMSEA Resource Facility
1720 – 1720 Panel discussion
1720 – 1730 Wrap-up and End of Session

  • Dr. Keita Furukawa,
  • PEMSEA

 

 

26 August, 2024