The 2026 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) and PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) Joint Learning Forum, themed “Empowering Coastal Cities for a Blue Future,” was organized by the PNLG and PNLC in collaboration with the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Coastal 500, and the PEMSEA Resource Facility. The Forum was hosted by the Metropolitan City of Busan, Republic of Korea. The Joint Learning Forum took place on 8 September 2026 at Paradise Hotel Busan as part of the 2026 PNLG Annual Forum (8-10 September 2026). It featured two panel discussions: Local Pathways for Blue Carbon and Nature-Based Solutions, and Capitalizing on Coasts: Financing and Innovating Local Blue Economies.

The 2025 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum, with the theme, “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Blue Economy: Linking Climate, Nature and Energy,” was organized by PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, in collaboration with PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Indonesia, PEMSEA Resource Facility, and hosted by Jakarta Province, Indonesia. The forum was held on September 16-18, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia.

The 2023 Forum of the PNLG with the theme, “Developing Coastal Cities, Fostering Blue Partnership” was hosted by the PNLG and PEMSEA and co-organized by the PNLG Secretariat, PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI) of Xiamen University (XMU). The forum was conducted on 8-11 November 2023 in Xiamen, China. The PNLG Forum was one of the key events of the Xiamen World Ocean Week. 

The Forum was participated by over 130 participants from: 

• 23 members from seven countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, RO Korea, and Timor Leste,
• 4 PNLG Associate members, namely the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI) and Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans (FISO) of Xiamen University (XMU), China, and National Ocean Technology Center (NOTC) of the Ministry of Natural Resources, China;
• resource speakers and other invited experts,
• the PNLG Secretariat, and  
• the PRF.
   

The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Annual Forum 2022 was held in Tangerang Regency, Indonesia, from 26-28 October 2022. The event was hosted by the Tangerang Regency, in coordination with PEMSEA, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) of Indonesia, the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (CCMRS) of IPB University of Indonesia, and the PNLG Secretariat. It was themed “Strengthening Coastal Resilience Towards Sustainable Local Blue Economies”, and consisted of the following activities:

• a General Assembly where matters related to the PNLG’s governance, policies
and status of operationalization were discussed;

• Technical workshops that facilitated knowledge and experience sharing
among the PNLG members and other key agencies, partners, and programs in
Indonesia;

• Field visits that showcased on-the-ground implementation of the Regency’s
relevant programs and corresponding achievements, particularly on habitat
protection/restoration and alternative livelihoods;

• An exhibit featuring relevant local products and good practices; and

• A series of networking events and cultural presentations. 

The Preah Sihanouk Declaration on PNLG Leadership for the Decade of Action for Sustainable Development of the Coasts and Oceans through ICM where the member declare their commitment through our ICM programs and related initiatives to pursue Blue Economy within our authority and jurisdiction through 2030 in upholding the program components and objectives on governance and partnerships, priority management programs and monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The Preah Sihanouk Declaration was adopted during the PNLG Annual Forum held in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, last 1 December 2021.

The Charter of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) for Sustainable Coastal Development - a partnership built on leadership and commitment towards strengthening coastal governance.

Local Government Action Statement in support of the UN SDGs

PNLG Members are already acting – through the implementation of ICM programs – to improve conservation efforts, protect biodiversity, adapt to climate change, reduce pollution, build sustainable communities, but progress too often goes unrecognized and is not measured or reported consistently. Sharing the impact of these ongoing efforts and catalyzing new actions is imperative, in part because of the recently adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also as a core objective of the PNLG network.

Real momentum can only occur when national and local governments collaborate – the updated SDS-SEA 2015 and its Implementation Plan 2017-2021 provide the prospect for improving alliances between the two levels of government. The timing is right.

PNLG Members have an enormous opportunity to make even greater impact. The PNLG Members’ actions in four sectors of the SDGs – water and sanitation, sustainable communities, climate, and food security and conservation – brings attention to and quantifies local government commitments and actions, provides investment opportunities and enhances investor confidence and capital flows into sustainable development efforts at the sub-national level.