Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia : Regional Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development Requirements for the Coasts and Oceans [Reprint]

The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF), in partnership with the National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, Ministry of Natural Resources (NMHMS/MNR), convened the 2nd Blue Carbon Technical Working Group Meeting on 5–6 June 2025 in Haikou, Hainan Province of China. The meeting was attended by nearly 60 experts and stakeholders on blue carbon from 11 countries in the EAS region and beyond. The PRF Secretariat served as the Secretariat for the meeting. Online participants included members of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers and other Blue Carbon experts from the region.
 

The meeting aimed to:

• Draw consensus on the governance framework of an innovative Blue Carbon Ecosystem Services Management Mechanism (Draft 0) and the requirements to operationalize a regional blue carbon certification program.
• Improve understanding and consensus building among BC-TWG members on the draft regional blue carbon accounting protocol.

Expected outcomes of the meeting include:

• Refined concept of a Blue Carbon Ecosystem Services Management Mechanism, including a blue carbon stock monitoring network.
• Refined regional blue carbon accounting protocol.
• Refined workplan for 2025 and 2026 for review, guidance and/or approval at the 17th EAS PC in July 2025.

The PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC), Burapha University and the PEMSEA Resource Facility co-organized the "Training on Integrating Blue Carbon into the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Framework" in March 2025 in Chonburi, Thailand.
 

The training, co-sponsored by Burapha University and the University of Hawai'i, with support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand, Thailand Science, Research and Innovation (TSRI), Henry Luce Foundation, and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies-University of Hawai’i, brought together PNLC participants and Chonburi Province coastal management stakeholders to enhance the understanding of Blue Carbon concepts and explore how the Network can support.
 

PEMSEA's regional Blue Carbon program. The training had the following objectives:

1. Gain foundational understanding of ICM and its role in coastal resource management.
2. Learn about the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems and communities.
3. Understand the concept of Blue Carbon and its significance in climate change mitigation.
4. Acquire the knowledge to integrate blue carbon principles into coastal management strategies, ensuring more sustainable and resilient coastal zones and harness the potential of blue carbon ecosystems as nature-based solutions for climate action.
5. Identify work areas, in terms of knowledge, capacity and technical assistance, PNLC members need to strengthen to enable them to better support government and local community efforts in managing their coastal areas and associated blue carbon ecosystems.

The East Asian Seas (EAS) Executive Committee convened its 33rd Meeting on 28 April 2025 in Busan, Republic of Korea. The meeting gathered key leaders of the EAS Partnership Council, including Chair Dr. Vann Monyneath, Co-Chair Atty. Jonas Leones, Intergovernmental Session Co-Chair Mr. Le Dai Thang, Technical Session Chair Dr. Keita Furukawa, and Technical Session Co-Chair Dr. Suk-Jae Kwon. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) Secretariat, led by Executive Director Ms. Aimee T. Gonzales, provided secretariat support, alongside other PRF staff. Observers included representatives from the Arafura Timor Seas program, Korea Maritime Institute, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, and the China PEMSEA Center, with additional PRF personnel joining online.

The meeting agenda featured key updates and strategic discussions on the outcomes and next steps following the East Asian Seas Congress 2024, the alignment of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) with 2030 targets, and PRF’s accomplishments in 2024 and work plan for 2025. Other agenda items included preparations for the 17th EAS Partnership Council Meeting, the engagement of Non-Country Partners, progress on the Blue Carbon Program, presentation of the 2024 audited financial report, and governance matters such as the election of new officers and the selection process for the next PRF Executive Director.

2024 was a landmark year for PEMSEA with the successful organization of the EAS Congress 2024 and the 8th Ministerial Forum as key highlights. These milestone events led to stronger and renewed commitments to drive synergistic actions towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient coasts, ocean and communities, aligned with national priorities and global and regional targets.

Check out progress and plans of PEMSEA's projects that address complex interconnected environmental challenges in the region: marine plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change through rigorous baseline data collation, analysis and reporting;  enhancing governance and investment plans and programs; knowledge management and technical skills and capacity development.