Korea Maritime Institute (KMI)

Session ST 2.6: Harmonizing Oceans: Transboundary Strategies for Climate Resilience in North-East Asia

Convenors

Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia

Venue

TBC

Overview

The East Asia region, home to a diverse array of marine ecosystems and species, faces significant challenges exacerbated by climate change. These challenges include habitat loss, biological pollution from invasive alien species and harmful algal blooms, and threats to marine species from both human and natural stressors. Effective marine conservation efforts transcend national boundaries and require robust transboundary cooperation and multi-layered stakeholder engagement, from regional, national and local governments to MPA managers, research institutions, and local communities. This holistic approach resonates with the Congress theme “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean”.

The urgent needs for climate resilience are amplified through international and regional forums. Such calls include the resolution on regional cooperation to accelerate climate action on oceans in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development[: ESCAP_RES_79_2_E (unescap.org)] adopted by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), contributing to, for example, the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life under water) and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. 

This session will highlight the role of) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under CMSP (Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning) regime in North-East Asia in fostering regional resilience against climate impacts and promoting ecosystem conservation. The discussion outcomes are expected to contribute to the healthy ocean as identified in the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia Implementation Plan 2023-2027.

In this session/side event, key topics will include:

  • Understanding Climate Change Impacts: Examining how climate change affects marine ecosystems in this region.
  • Applying CMSP Strategies: Sharing successful CMSP strategies and their role in climate-related conservation efforts (e.g., blue carbon, community-led habitat restoration).
  • Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation: Discussing how multi-stakeholder engagement can strengthen regional conservation initiatives.

Additionally, the session will underscore capacity building and knowledge exchange, providing a platform for member States and relevant stakeholders to share best practices and enhance skills for managing MPAs and addressing regional marine environmental challenges. Insights from the North-East Asian Marine Protected Areas Network (NEAMPAN)[: The North-East Asian Marine Protected Areas Network (NEAMPAN) aims to establish an effective, functional representative network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the subregion for conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity and more efficient MPA management. As of May 2024, NEAMPAN has 12 designated MPA sites across five member States in North-East Asia.] will be crucial, reflecting the collective experience of MPAs from five member States (China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation) under the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC).

Program

Time AGENDA
Panelists (Note: Panelists and topics are subject to change as confirmations are still pending)

  • Officer(s) from ESCAP
  • Researchers from KMI
  • NEAMPAN Steering Committee from NEAMPAN member States
  • MPA manager(s) from NEAMPAN sites

Experts nominated by conveners, and regional entities (PNLC (PEMSEA Network Learning Center), UNESCO, IUCN Asia, other UN entities (TBC)) 
Presentations (Note: Topics and speakers are subject to confirmation):

  • NEAMPAN on the role of CMSP in MPA networks (15~20 minutes)
  • KMI on the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems (15~20 minutes)
Discussions by invited experts (10 minutes for each) (Note: Topics and speakers are subject to confirmation):

  • Regional Collaboration Models: Case studies on successful regional cooperation in North-East Asia under NEAMPAN, highlighting best practices in marine protection and sustainability.
  • Science and Research Highlights: Discussion on recent scientific research and innovations that contribute to the sustainable management of the seas of East Asia. The role of emerging technologies and methodologies in enhancing marine conservation efforts will be emphasized.
  • Policy Frameworks and Initiatives: Analysis of current policy frameworks and exploration of future directions for regional marine policy, including the impact of international agreements and national commitments on the sustainable use of marine resources.
  • Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Exploration of effective mechanisms for enhancing stakeholder participation in marine protection efforts. This includes focusing on community-led initiatives, public-private partnerships, and capacity-building programmes.
26 August, 2024

ST 4.1: Marine Litter Fund Forum

Conveners

Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), COBSEA, PEMSEA, World Bank, ADB(TBD)

 

Venue

TBC

 

Background

Marine plastic litter has emerged as a significant global environmental challenge that demands immediate and effective intervention. The East Asian Seas region is a major contributor to marine plastic litter, due to factors such as high population density, rapid urbanization, and inadequate waste management systems. Consequently, this region is responsible for over 50% of the world’s marine plastic litter. Given the interconnected nature of marine ecosystems, addressing this issue requires coordinated and collaborative efforts among neighboring countries. Effective collaboration between developed and developing nations that share these marine resources is crucial, especially in supporting countries that lack the necessary technical, policy, and economic capacities to tackle the problem independently.

Despite the critical nature of the marine litter problem, international cooperation remains insufficient, especially within the East Asian Seas region. It is imperative that we move beyond merely recognizing the issue and towards implementing concrete, actionable solutions. Establishing a dedicated fund to expand international cooperation is the first step towards developing practical solutions that yield tangible results. Given the substantial contributions to marine litter from the East Asian Seas region, there is an urgent need to discuss the formation of a fund to enhance international cooperation in this domain.

In response, the Korea Maritime Institute, COBSEA, PEMSEA, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are jointly organizing this forum to foster international cooperation on marine litter and to discuss the establishment of a dedicated fund. We anticipate that this forum will serve as a crucial foundational step in deliberating the necessary funding mechanisms to jointly address the marine litter issue in the East Asian Seas region.

The purpose of this forum is to share the necessity of raising funds to address the marine litter issue in East Asia and to explore cooperative strategies among East Asian countries. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen international cooperation for the protection of the marine environment and sustainable development. The specific objectives are as follows:

  1. Sharing Trends and Policies on Marine Litter in East Asian Seas region: Discussing the current state of marine litter pollution, the policies implemented to address it, and the status of international cooperation to reassess the severity of the issue and emphasize the necessity of collective response.
  2. Examining International Cooperation Efforts: Analyzing funding strategies and the effectiveness of international cooperation through case studies from the World Bank, and discussing the implications for East Asia.
  3. Exploring the Marine Plastic Value Chain: Investigating areas for collaboration based on the analysis of the marine plastic value chain, which constitutes most of the marine litter.
  4. Reviewing Private Fund Trends and Potential: Examining the trends and future potential of private funds in addressing marine litter, focusing on initiatives by financial institutions involved in the UNEP Finance Initiative.
  5. Assessing International Cooperation and Fundraising Case Studies: Reviewing the current state of international cooperation on marine litter in East Asia and exploring case studies of international environmental funds to propose possible directions for establishing a marine litter fund

Program

Time AGENDA
13:30-14:00 Registration
14:00-14:20 Opening Ceremony

Opening Address  

  • Jong-Deog Kim, President, Korea Maritime Institute

Welcome Address   

  • Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director, PEMSEA  
  • Mahesh Pradhan, Coordinator, Coordinating Body on the  Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)  
14:20-15:35 Panel Discussion
14:45-15:35 Presentation 1: Current State of Marine Litter in East Asia

  •  Xinhong Wang, Professor, College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University

Presentation 2: World Bank’s Marine Litter Fundraising and International Cooperation Cases 

  •  Milen Dyoulgerov Vollen, Senior Environment Specialist, World Bank

Presentation 3: Areas of International Cooperation from the Perspective of the Marine Plastic Value Chain

  • Vivek Anand ASOKAN, Policy Researcher, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Presentation 4: Trends and Potential of Private Funds for Marine Litter

  • UNEP FI (TBD)

Presentation 5: Directions for Establishing a Fund to Achieve a Plastic-Free East Asian Sea 

  • Yoonjung Lee, Associate Research Fellow, Korea Maritime Institute
15:35-15:50 Break
15:50-16:30 Panel Discussion
14:45-15:35 Moderator: Jong-Deog Kim, President, Korea Maritime Institute

 

Panels

Panel 1. Mahesh Pradhan, Coordinator, COBSEA

Panel 2. NORAD (TBD)

Panel 3. Maeve Nightingale, Senior Programme Officer, IUCN 

Panel 4. ADB (TBD)

Panel 5. Jongmyoung Lee, Director, Korea Marine Litter Institute of OSEAN
16:30-16:50 Q&A
16:50-17:00 Closing Remarks

 

23 August, 2024