The Twenty-sixth Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM 26) of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, in Siem Reap, Cambodia during 23-25 October. IGM 26 was preceded by two COBSEA Working Group meetings: Marine Litter (WGML-6) and Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (WGMCE-2) during 21-22 October. Nearly 100 participants joined these events over the week of 21-25 October, both online and in-person and. The UNEP delegation was led by UNEP Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, and supported by numerous UNEP colleagues from HQs, outposted offices, as well as the COBSEA Secretariat. Some of the highlights/key outcomes are:
WGML-6:
- Noted progress on the biennial workplan for implementation of RAP MALI 2023-24
- Finalized report “Toward a Regional Assessment on Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas”
- Discussed draft Strategic Plan for RC3S as RAC on marine litter, and hosting arrangements for the EAS Regional Node and web platform
- Discussed biennial workplan for implementation of RAP MALI 2025-26 for consideration of IGM 26
WGMCE-2:
- National, regional, and global updates on MCE efforts from participating countries and partners, including UNEP, CBD, DOALOS
- Noted progress on implementation of MCE Framework 2023-24, and discussed MCE project concepts
- Knowledge sharing session by SwAM on MSP, MPAs, and OCEMs
- Agreed on closer synergies of the GEF SCS-SAP project with WGMCE.
- Discussed first biennial workplan for implementation of MCE Framework during 2025-26 for consideration by IGM 26
IGM 26:
- Took note of the UNEP Executive Director’s report on the implementation of COBSEA activities over 2023-2024
- Created a Task Force as follow-up to the independent strategic and functional review of the COSBEA Secretariat undertaken by UNEP towards supporting the effective implementation of COBSEA’s new Strategic Directions 2023-2027.
- Approved biennial workplan and activities of the COBSEA Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI), as well as the biennial workplan on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (MCE).
- Endorsed COBSEA report ‘Towards a Regional Assessment on Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas (Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam)’, and adopted the Strategic Action Plan for COBSEA’s first Regional Activity Centre on Marine Litter (RC3S in Bali)
- Adopted a new ‘COSBEA Collaborative Action Framework on Nutrients Management’.
- Approved COBSEA’s biennial workplan and budget for the next 2025-2026 biennium.
Further information and documentation can be found online at www.cobsea.org
Contact: unep-cobsea@un.org
Twitter(X) / LinkedIn: @UNEP_COBSEA, Youtube: @COBSEA Secretariat
