On October 25, 2016, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched a special publication entitled "Voices of Impact: Speaking for the Global Commons” to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This publication celebrates success stories from UNDP-GEF’s efforts to protect the environment and improve people’s lives. The stories illustrate positive transformations for local communities, large institutions and the entire planet.

 

 

PEMSEA and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of the People’s Republic of China hosted the National MPA Training Workshop 2016 with co-organizers First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) of SOA and North-East Asian Marine Protected Areas Network (NEAMPAN). The China-PEMSEA Center (CPC) and Ocean College Zhejiang University conducted the workshop. More than 120 MPA experts and managers attended the event in Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China on October 24-28, 2016. Participants included leaders from SOA, FIO, Ocean College of Zhejiang University and Ocean and Fishery Bureau of Zhoushan.

The China Daily reports on Xiamen World Ocean Week, where PEMSEA organized the regional workshop on Catalyzing Blue Economy in East Asia. Read the full article here.

 

 

As part of World Ocean Week 2016, held in Xiamen PR China Nov 4-10, PEMSEA hosted a workshop on Catalyzing Blue Economy Investment in East Asia. The event, co-hosted by the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG), China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Center, Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI), Xiamen University and Fujian Institute of Oceanography, welcomed participants from China and around the world to learn about blue economy investment in the region and discuss barriers and solutions to developing investible opportunities in the region.

 

 

At the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) 2016 held in Rotterdam, Netherlands from Nov 29 – Dec 2, PEMSEA announced a new partnership with the World Ocean Council (WOC), an international business leadership alliance dedicated to Corporate Ocean Responsibility.

 

 

PEMSEA is proud to be part of the preparatory meeting on Feb 15-16 for The Ocean Conference happening at United Nations headquarters in New York City June 5-9, 2017. The preparatory meeting includes a series of side events covering a range of ocean topics.

 

 

R20 Regions of Climate Action and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) announced a new partnership this week to facilitate the scale up of investments at the intersection of sustainable “blue economy” growth in coastal areas and the expansion of low-carbon and pollution control technologies in East Asia.

 

 

Countries in the East Asian Seas (EAS) region continue to take essential steps to assess their respective ocean economies and ocean health.

 

“Sustainable blue economy growth is central to the health of both coastal ecosystems and local economies in the region. The ongoing work of countries to better understand what drives ‘blue economy’ and how we account for it is critical”, said PEMSEA’s Executive Director, Stephen Adrian Ross.

 

 

Protection of our shared coasts and oceans takes center stage next month with World Oceans Day on June 8th and the gathering of delegates from around the world at the United Nations Headquarters for the UN Ocean Conference from June 5-9.

 

 

A landmark study released today by Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy examines the science and policy of “blue carbon” in East Asia and the opportunities for countries to advance their commitments to addressing climate change through the conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands.