The resumed session (part 2) of the Twenty-fifth Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM 25) of COBSEA concluded with key decisions. Notably, the Meeting formally established the East Asian Seas Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) and established the Regional Capacity Center for Clean Seas (RC3S) in Bali, Indonesia, as the first Regional Activity Centre of COBSEA.
Regional Node
The Regional Node provides a knowledge management and networking mechanism toward achieving the COBSEA Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI). The Node aims to enhance knowledge sharing on sources, pathways and impacts of marine litter; create a multi-stakeholder network to facilitate cooperation; and leverage resources for marine litter efforts in the region along three pillars:
Pillar 1 – Marine litter policy and management
Pillar 2 – Marine litter science
Pillar 3 – Marine litter capacity building
The web platform of the Regional Node, linked to the Global Digital Platform provides access to policies, resources and a map of good practices; the Regional Research Database on plastic pollution; and capacity building resources.
Regional Activity Centre
RACs are autonomous regional organizations that support activities of COBSEA and decisions of the IGM and provide additional human, technical and financial capacity on regional priority areas. The Regional Capacity Center for Clean Seas (RC3S) in Bali, Indonesia, is the first COBSEA RAC, established to support countries in achieving the RAP MALI and provide technical capacity to address marine pollution.
Following the decision by IGM, RC3S will prepare a brief Strategic Plan for presentation to IGM 26 (in 2024) to guide activities and facilitate effective support and management of the RAC.
Other outcomes of IGM 25 part 2
IGM 25 part 2 took place in Hanoi, Viet Nam on 12-13 October, hosted by the Viet Nam Administration for Seas and Islands (VASI) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Over 55 participants representing all nine COBSEA participating countries, observers and UNEP colleagues took part in this 2-day hybrid meeting.
The Meeting also adopted COBSEA’s biennial workplan and budget for 2023-2024 and the biennial workplan for implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter 2023-24. Countries provided guidance on formulation of new Strategic Directions 2023-2027and agreed to develop the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Framework and a regional nutrient reduction strategy.
A field trip to Halong Bay, a world heritage site, was organized on 14 October, highlighting Viet Nam's natural beauty and challenges of marine pollution and ecosystem degradation.
