This 1-day workshop brought together investment professionals, financiers, development organizations, local and national government officials, project proponents, business organizations and others to provide background on blue economy investment in the region and explore the potential for developing a pipeline of bankable investment opportunities.

The PNLG Forum 2016 was hosted by the City Government of Ansan, RO Korea, from September 5-7, 2016 at the Ansan Culture and Art Center. Carrying the theme of “Sustainable Future Cities in the Coastal Area through UN SDGs”, the PNLG Forum 2016 assembled over 100 representatives from 30 local governments in 8 countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, RO Korea, Thailand and Vietnam), as well as representatives from the PNLG associate members (Coastal and Ocean Management Institute and First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration of China). Observers were also present from Dili, Manatuto, Liquica of Timor Leste, and the Marine Biology Institute of Shandong Province, China.

The 2016 Forum adopted the PNLG Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2016-2021, which aligned the ICM programs of the PNLG members with relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities and Cities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnership building). PNLG membership was expanded to a total of 45, with the induction of five new members from Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong Provinces, Cambodia; Tangerang Regency, Indonesia; and Sanya City, China.

The Eighth East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council Meeting was held at the Be Grand Resort, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines from 13 to 14 July 2016. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines co-hosted the Meeting with assistance from the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office. The Meeting was attended by representatives from ten PEMSEA Partner Countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. A representative from Thailand participated as an observer. Nine representatives from Non-Country Partners were in attendance, namely: ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB); Conservation International (CI) Philippines; IPIECA The Global Oil and Gas Industry Association for Environmental and Social Issues; Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM); Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP); Ocean Policy Research Institute Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI,SPF); Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL); United Nations Environment Programme Global Programme of Action for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (UNEP-GPA); and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) participated as observers.

The Partnership Council focused on the following key issues: (a) Achieving the SDS-SEA post-2015 targets; (b) Development of the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan for 2017-2021; (c) Approval of PEMSEA Informative Documents on ICM Code, ICM System Certification and ICM Professional Certification; (d) Election of new Partnership Council Chairs and Co-Chairs; (e) Establishment of an EAS Partnership Council Subcommittee on a Self-Sustaining PEMSEA and (e) Collaborative Planning, among others. This publication summarizes the proceedings of the meeting.

The Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GEF/UNDP/PEMSEA Project on Scaling up SDS-SEA Implementation was held at the Be Grand Resort, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines on 12 July 2016. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines hosted the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by representatives from eight project participating countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Three PEMSEA partner countries were present as observers and/or as contributing countries to PEMSEA: Japan, RO Korea, and Singapore. Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Manila and the UNDP Regional Hub Bangkok were present on behalf of the Global Environment Facility and UNDP. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as the Secretariat for the Meeting. This publication summarizes the proceedings of the meeting.

DOCUMENT TITLE
China Report
Cambodia Report
Timore Leste Report
Laos Progress Report
Indonesia Report
Thailand Report
Vietnam Report
Philippines Progress Report
China Work Plan and Budget
SDS-SEA Work Plan and Budget
 

The Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GEF/UNDP/PEMSEA Project on scaling up implementation of the SDS-SEA was held at the Princesa Garden Island Resort, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines on 25 June 2015. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines hosted the Meeting. The Meeting was attended by representatives from six project participating countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Three PEMSEA partner countries were present as observers and/or as contributing countries to PEMSEA: DPR Korea, Japan, and RO Korea. Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Manila and the UNDP Regional Hub Bangkok were present representing the Global Environment Facility and UNDP. A representative from The World Bank was also present as an observer. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as the Secretariat for the Meeting.

The PSC Meeting focused on the status of the project MOA signing in countries, the regional and country work plans and budget for 2015-2016, and actions to be taken to address the gaps.

Sixty young leaders from nine countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam) in the East Asian Seas (EAS) region participated in, and contributed to the Da Nang Youth Declaration: Charting the Future We Want. Based on our experiences in the 4th EAS Youth Forum and participation in the EAS Congress international conference, we provide this Declaration and roadmap for action.

The 9th National Contact Points Meeting on the Implementation of the Framework Programme for Joint Oil Spill Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in the Gulf of Thailand was held on 17 November 2015 at Furama Resort Hotel, Da Nang, Viet Nam. The Meeting was held as a side event of the East Asian Seas Congress 2015.

Twenty (20) key officials representing the Merchant Marine Department and Ministry of Environment of Cambodia, Marine Department of Thailand, Thailand Oil Industry Environmental Safety Group (IESG), Vietnam National Search and Rescue Committee (VINASARCOM), Vietnam Administration for Seas and Islands (VASI), and Vietnam National Southern Oil Spill Response Center (NASOS) participated in the meeting. The Partnerships on Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) was represented in the meeting.

This workshop aimed to: (a) highlight the need for, and critical role to be played by cities and local governments in the region to lead the way in sustainable development including combating climate change; (b) increase awareness on the progress, achievements and good practices in sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation among cities and local governments in the region using ICM as the management framework for action; and (c) explore the solutions and opportunities for sustainable development at the region’s local settings by strengthening PNLG initiatives in sustainable development and climate change through linkages with other international networks of cities and local governments and their programs.