Technical session at 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC)

Title: Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Global Action on Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas and Northwest Pacific

(previously: Strengthening Partnership and Improving Policy to Address Marine Debris Issues)

Track 9: International Collaboration

Date & time: Tuesday, 20 September 2022, 11.00-12.00 KST

Venue: Room 109-110

Regional Seas programmes provide an important country-driven mechanism for cooperation, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and to link national efforts and global commitments. Member countries of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP) have adopted Regional Action Plans on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) to guide evidence-based action on land-based and sea-based sources of marine litter, improve monitoring and assessment of marine litter, and facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation. The East Asian Seas and Northwest Pacific Regional Nodes of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) provide regional mechanisms for knowledge exchange, data sharing, and capacity building. COBSEA and NOWPAP offer intergovernmental platforms to coordinate action and promote regional priorities in the negotiation of an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution in the wake of the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5).

Aim: This session will explore opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation and concerted action on marine litter to meet national needs, in line with regional priorities, toward tackling the global threat of plastic pollution. Representatives of COBSEA and NOWPAP will share initiatives and solutions from the region and invite stakeholders from member countries to discuss how the existing regional mechanisms can be leveraged to strengthen partnerships and cooperation toward tackling marine litter globally.

COBSEA countries and stakeholders from the region are invited to participate in the interactive dialogue of the event to share experience and ideas on how to leverage COBSEA for national, regional and global action.

Programme:

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Information on funding opportunities to join the conference is available under the Sponsorship Prospectus