Da Nang Compact on the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia 2015

DESCRIPTION:

Signed during the Fifth Ministerial Forum on the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia on 20 November 2015, the Da Nang Compact revisits and reaffirms the regional coastal and marine strategy, the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), and lays down the post-2015 Strategic Targets of PEMSEA.

Ministers and head of delegations from 11 countries of the East Asian Seas (EAS) signed the Compact. The Compact is the region’s support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant international and regional commitments related to coasts and oceans.

With the signing, Ministers and head of delegations from Cambodia, PR China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, the Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam adopted the SDS-SEA 2015. The SDS-SEA 2015, is an updated version of the SDS-SEA 2003, which incorporates strategies, objectives and action programmes for climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity, among others. The SDS-SEA 2015 was adopted as a common platform for regional cooperation, and as a framework for policy and programme development and implementation, at the national and local level.

The Compact aimed to reiterate the core mission of the partnership and keep the mission relevant to present and future concerns, attuned to the changes that have occurred both in our physical and international policy environments. Through the Da Nang Compact, the 11 countries of the PEMSEA committed to achieve medium-term targets as set forth in the Post-2015 Strategic Targets of PEMSEA:

TARGET 1: By 2017, a self-sustaining PEMSEA Resource Facility managing and coordinating a suite of products, services and financing mechanisms for advancing SDS-SEA implementation at the regional, national and local levels.

TARGET 2: By 2018, a regional State of Oceans and Coasts reporting system to monitor progress, impacts and benefits, and to continually improve planning and management of SDS-SEA implementation.

TARGET 3: By 2021, national coastal and ocean policies, and supporting legislation and institutional arrangements set up and functional in 100% of PEMSEA Partner Countries, consistent with international environmental and sustainable development commitments and based on best available scientific information.

TARGET 4: By 2021, ICM programs for sustainable development of coastal and marine areas covering at least 25% of the region’s coastline and contiguous watershed areas, supporting national priorities and commitments under the UN SDGs, UNFCCC, Aichi Biodiversity Targets, UNISDR Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and other relevant environmental and sustainable development targets subscribed to by PEMSEA Partner Countries.

The SDS-SEA 2015 will be guiding documents for the work of the countries of EAS region in the journey of achieving the targets. PEMSEA will monitor the progress and achievements of the Da Nang Compact using the regional and local State of the Coasts reporting system.