The First Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting of the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Project on Reducing Pollution and Preserving Environmental Flows in the East Asian Seas through the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management in ASEAN Countries (IRBM Project) was held on February 17, 2023 in hybrid format, i.e., in-person component at Park Inn by Radisson in Manila, Philippines and via video conference (Zoom). The meeting was attended by the Chair of the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM); National Focal Points (NFPs) of the AWGWRM of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam; representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok Regional Hub and UNDP Country Office in Indonesia and Lao PDR and the East Asian Seas Executive Committee (EAS EC). The Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU), hosted by PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF), served as Secretariat to the RSC.

The 2nd RTF meeting was a follow through to the 1st RTF meeting that was convened in April 2022, which endorsed the establishment of a Regional Task Force and the development of a Regional Strategy on Biofouling Management in the East Asian Seas (EAS) region. Since then, a draft Regional Strategy on Biofouling Management has been prepared and circulated to the countries, nongovernment, academic and private sector partners for review. The 2nd RTF meeting aims to further review the draft Regional Strategy and discuss its implementation, as well as to take into consideration the countries and private sectors’ on-going programs or initiatives on biofouling and IAS management.

The 14th EAS PC Meeting was held virtually on 27-28 July 2022 via Zoom. It was participated by the incumbent and incoming Chairs and Co-Chairs of the EAS PC, the Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF); country partners, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam; non-country partners, namely the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), IPIECA, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), and PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG); and observers from the IPB University of Indonesia, PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC), State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) in The City University of Hong Kong, and Philippine Country Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). PRF served as the secretariat of the meeting.

The 2nd PNLC General Assembly was organized by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Resource Facility on 27 June 2022 via Zoom. It convened a total of 30 participants from: eight PNLC members from 5 countries (China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste); five observing research and higher education institutions from 5 countries (Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam); and PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF). The event was chaired by Dr. Wansuk Senanan, the incumbent President of the PNLC and Assistant Professor at the Department of Aquatic Sciences in Burapha University (BUU), Thailand. PRF served as the Secretariat of the meeting.

The UN World Ocean Assessment has confirmed the role of Invasive Aquatic Species (IAS) as a major driver for biodiversity change in the world’s freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystem[1]. Globally, about 2,000 marine species have been introduced to new locations through human-mediated movements. When they become invasive, most of them have had negative ecological, socioeconomic and human health impacts. With increased trade and climate change, biological invasions are likely to increase. The main vectors for unintentional transfer of invasive aquatic species are ships' ballast water, biofouling of mobile marine structures and aquaculture.

The End of Project Stakeholders Forum for the Philippine Component of the ASEAN Norway Cooperation Project on Local Capacity Building to Reduce Plastic Pollution (ASEANO) was held on 6 July 2022 at the BayLeaf Hotel in General Trias, Cavite, Philippines. The Forum was jointly organized by PEMSEA and the Provincial Government of Cavite through the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) and participated by representatives from the local government units (LGUs) along the Imus River Watershed, relevant provincial offices, national government agencies, private sector, nongovernment organizations, academe and the Norwegian Embassy.

The Ocean and Climate Dialogue was organized by Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Resource Facility. It was held on 8 June 2022 via Zoom and was attended online by national and local governments, civil society, academe and research institutions, non-government organizations, private sector, and other interested parties from 14 countries in the East Asian Seas region and beyond.

The ocean makes up 71 percent of the planet and provides many services to countries and their coastal communities—from mitigating weather extremes to generating the oxygen we breathe, producing the food we eat, to storing the excess carbon dioxide (CO2) we generate. At the same time, the ocean bears the brunt of climate change as evidenced by rising sea surface temperature and sea level rise, all of which affect the health of marine species along the coasts, nearshore, and deep ocean ecosystems as well as people’s livelihood and well-being.

Recognizing this inextricable link between the ocean and climate, the Glasgow Climate Pact was adopted in November 20211 to anchor ocean-related issues and solutions in the multilateral climate change regime. The Pact highlights the “importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including in forests, the ocean and the cryosphere, and the protection of biodiversity […]” and its role in strengthening adaptation and mitigation action. The Pact also enjoins the relevant work programs and constituted bodies under the UNFCCC “to consider how to integrate and strengthen ocean-based action in their existing mandates and work plans and to report on these activities within the existing reporting processes.”

The Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) also identifies climate change and disaster risk reduction as one of its priority programs in the region. The link between ocean and climate change is also highlighted in the Preah Sihanouk Ministerial Declaration signed by PEMSEA’s country partners in December 2021 to reaffirm their commitment to blue economy and support global efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement with mitigation and adaptation as crucial underlying principles in accelerating blue economy.

As a follow up of countries’ commitments in the Preah Sihanouk Ministerial Declaration and as the region’s contribution to operationalizing the commitment in the Glasgow Climate Pact, the Ocean and Climate Dialogue was convened to examine how the region is executing the actions