Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP)

A. Overview

The NOWPAP region is one of the world’s most densely populated, home to over 300 million people, most of them living in coastal areas and closely dependent on the environmental, economic and social services provided by northwest Pacific marine and coastal ecosystems.

Stretching 2,500 km from north to south, the Northwest Pacific has climate zones ranging from temperate to subtropical. Wide variations in demographic distribution and the industrial technologies and agricultural practices used across the region, resulting in an uneven dispersal of anthropogenic pressures. This, combined with the sharp differences in climate, sea currents, river run-offs, and water exchange processes that determine and/or control ecosystem services, leads to a great variety of ecological problems.

NOWPAP The region has two very dissimilar seas. One, located between Japan and Sakhalin Island in the east and the Russian mainland and the Korean peninsula in the west, is quite deep, connected with the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea through shallow straits, with its northern area ice-covered in winter. The other, situated west and south of the Korean peninsula is a shallow marginal basin having relatively restricted water exchange with offshore waters but receiving sizeable coastal water run-offs, being located in the vicinity of the mouth of the biggest river of Northeast Asia, Amur or Heilong Jiang River.

The Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP) was adopted by the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation in September 1994 as a part of the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme.

The geographical scope of NOWPAP covers the marine environment and coastal zones from about 121o E to 143o E longitude, and from approximately 33o N to 52o N latitude. NOWPAP Regional Oil & HNS Spill Contingency Plan applies, without prejudice to the sovereign right of any Member, to the waters lying between 33° N and approximately 55° N latitude and about 121°E and 145° E longitude.

The Member States of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan will cover the marine environment and coastal zones include:

Japan;
People’s Republic of China;
Republic of Korea;
Russian Federation

The overall goal of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan is "the wise use, development and management of the coastal and marine environment so as to obtain the utmost long-term benefits for the human populations of the region, while protecting human health, ecological integrity and the region’s sustainability for future generations".

The Northwest Pacific region features coastal and island ecosystems with spectacular marine life and commercially important fishing resources. The region is also one of the most densely populated parts of the world, resulting in enormous pressures and demands on the environment.

B. Introduction

The Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP), launched in September 1994 is part of the United Nations Environment Regional Seas Programme. The overall goal of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan is "the wise use, development and management of the coastal and marine environment to obtain the utmost long-term benefits for the human populations of the region, while protecting human health, ecological integrity and the region's sustainability for future generations". Three complementary goals were also defined as follows:

The control, halting and prevention of any further degradation and deterioration of the coastal and marine environment and its resources;
The recovery and rehabilitation of the coastal and marine environments that have been degraded and which still have the potential for such a recovery;
The long-term sustainability of coastal and marine environmental quality and resources as assets for the present and future human populations of the region.

NOWPAP In implementing its mandate as a regional cooperative mechanism for the protection and sustainable development of the Northwest Pacific marine and coastal environment, NOWPAP has often been at the forefront of addressing environmental challenges through its technical assessments, capacity-building and policy support.

The current member states are: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Japan; People’s Republic of China; Republic of Korea; Russian Federation.

C. History

1974 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launches the Regional Seas Programme to address the growing degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas by engaging neighboring countries in comprehensive and specific actions to protect their common marine environment

1989 At the request of (People’s Republic of) China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation, UNEP approves “preparation of new action plans for seas not yet covered by the Regional Seas Programme”

1991 Representatives of northwest Pacific countries meet in Vladivostok, Russian Federation to discuss an Action Plan to implement the Regional Seas Programme in the region

1994 First Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) of Northwest Pacific countries held in Seoul on 14 September, adopts the Action Plan for the Protection, Management, and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP)

1998 The Third NOWPAP IGM held in Vladivostok endorses the establishment of a network of Regional Activity Centres

1999 The Fourth IGM held in Beijing decided to establish a NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) “to ensure the integrated and well-managed execution from within the region of projects under the Action Plan” and to function as a secretariat for NOWPAP.

1999 The Special Monitoring & Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) of NOWPAP established in Toyama, Japan

1999 The Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Center (POMRAC) of NOWPAP established in Vladivostok

2000 The Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) of NOWPAP was established in Daejeon, Republic of Korea

2000 The Sixth IGM held in Tokyo decided to set up two RCU offices, one in Toyoma and the other in Busan, Republic of Korea

2001 The Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC) of NOWPAP established in Beijing

2004 RCU offices in Toyama and Busan open on 1 and 2 November 2004, respectively

2004 The Ninth IGM held in Busan asks NOWPAP to begin work on the marine litter problem in the region

2004 A Memorandum of Understanding is signed on Regional Cooperation on Preparedness and Response to Oils Spills in the Marine Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region

2005 The 10^th IGM held in Toyama approves the Marine Litter Activity (MALITA) in the NOWPAP Region project and extends geographic coverage of the NOWPAP Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan

2007 The 12^th IGM held in Xiamen, China approves the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI)

2008 The 13^th IGM held in Jeju, Republic of Korea, approves the NOWPAP Regional Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Spill Contingency Plan

2012 NOWPAP Medium-term Strategy (MTS) for 2012-2017 endorsed by the Member States

2014 The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), representing NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit signed the Agreement of Cooperation in the field of environment, including preparedness and response to spills of oil and chemicals, marine litter, pollution damage civil liability, and compensation, and ballast water management

2018 NOWPAP Medium-term Strategy 2018-2023 adopted by the Member States. The major focus of the Strategy is on the coordination of the regional implementation of the ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals using the NOWPAP mechanism.

2021 The Regional Action Plan on Conservation and Management of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity (RAP BIO) was developed to be further approved by the NOWPAP Member States

2022 The Regional Plan on Marine Litter (2008) was updated to be further approved by the NOWPAP Member States

2024 NOWPAP Medium-term Strategy 2025-2030 was developed to be further approved by the NOWPAP Member States

D. The Action Plan and it's related instruments

In accordance with Article 31 of the Action Plan, the participating Governments agreed to establish a Trust Fund for the Protection and Management of the Coastal and Marine Environment and the Resources of the Northwest Pacific region, to be known as the NOWPAP Trust Fund. The NOWPAP Trust Fund is established to provide financial support for the implementation of the Action Plan adopted by the NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM).

The administration and management of the NOWPAP Trust Fund are governed by the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations. The expenditures of the NOWPAP Trust Fund are financed from contributions in accordance with the decisions on financial arrangements adopted by the IGM of NOWPAP. The NOWPAP Trust Fund is subject to audit by the United Nations. The Executive Director of the UN Environment, through his/her reports to the Intergovernmental Meeting, reports annually on the status of the NOWPAP Trust Fund. The revolving NOWPAP Trust Fund is maintained since 1995.

Voluntary cash and in-kind contributions from governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea support personnel and management costs of the RCU offices in Toyama, Japan, and Busan, R. Korea, respectively. In addition, Korea’s Coast Guard provides financial support to staff and operational costs of the NOWPAP MERRAC. A separate trust fund was established by the UN Environment for this purpose.

NOWPAP IGM considers and adopts the biannual budget prepared by the Regional Coordinating Unit. This budget is financed by contributions from the Member States, voluntary contributions from governments, and on a project basis - by supporting organisations.

E. Organizational structure

The Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) is the high-level governing body of NOWPAP that provides policy guidance and makes decisions. The NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meetings are held annually in one of the participating countries on a rotational basis and operate according to the terms set forth in Resolution 2 of the First NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting (1994).

NOWPAP IGMs:

Provide the overall policy direction for programme planning and execution
Assign priorities for project proposals within the scope of the NOWPAP Goals and Objectives, adopt and review continuously a work plan for the implementation of the Action Plan
Review the progress achieved in project implementation since the previous meeting
Approve the budgetary resources required for project implementation and determine their allocation
Agree upon the means for financing activities of the Action Plan, including firm pledges for contributions to the Trust Fund
Assist in the coordination of regional activities related to the protection and management of the coastal and marine environment in the Northwest Pacific region.

NOWPAP RCU and RACs

A network of four NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres (RACs) coordinated by the Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) ensures integrated and well-managed implementation under the Action Plan.

The RCU is the nerve centre directing and promoting the NOWPAP activities. It has the overall responsibility for the implementation of the NOWPAP Members' decisions regarding the operation of the Action Plan. The RCU maintains close contacts with and supports the work of the Regional Activity Centres (RACs). Establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with other international organizations is also an important mission of the RCU. At the request of NOWPAP Member States, RCU was established by UNEP with the staff being employees of the United Nations.

The network of NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres and their Terms of Reference were adopted by the decisions of the Fourth NOWPAP IGM in 1999. NOWPAP has four Centres: Special Monitoring and Coastal Environment Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC), Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC), Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC), and Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC).

Special Monitoring and Coastal Environment Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC)

Hosted by the Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Centre (NPEC), CEARAC was established in April 1999 in Toyama, Japan, under the auspices of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. CEARAC is responsible for the coordination of regional activities for assessment of the state of the marine, coastal and associated freshwater environments, including marine biodiversity and land-based sources of pollution. CEARAC is involved in the development of assessment and planning tools, including monitoring of biological effects of pollutants, use of remote sensing for monitoring purposes and use of new monitoring techniques.

Its current activities are focused on monitoring and assessments of marine and coastal biodiversity, harmful algal blooms, eutrophic areas and land-based sources of marine litter, including microplastic. CEARAC continues developing new monitoring tools for seagrass distribution and building regional capacity for remote sensing.

Read more about CEARAC and its activities here.

Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC)

DINRAC is based in the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Centre (CAEC) of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing. The objectives of DINRAC are to develop a region-wide data and information exchange network, to promote regional cooperation and exchange of information on the marine and coastal environment in the NOWPAP region and eventually to serve as a NOWPAP Clearinghouse.

DINRAC maintains various NOWPAP databases, publications and GIS-based maps and information on its web portal. In 2017 it was nominated by the Member States to host the Northwest Pacific Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, hosted previously by the Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Centre (NPEC) in Japan. DINRAC continues playing an important role in gathering and maintaining environmental and biodiversity datasets, inventory of institutions and environmental laws and regulations, and other information sources in the region.

Read more about DINRAC and its activities here.

Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC)

Established in the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KRISO/KIOST) in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea, MERRAC is a joint centre of the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Maritime Organization to develop effective regional cooperative measures in response to marine pollution incidents including oil and hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) spills. MERRAC also gathers information and delivers assessments on marine-based sources of marine litter.

MERRAC is functioning as secretariat for the NOWPAP MERRAC Focal Points Meetings, Competent National Authorities Meeting, Expert Meetings, and the NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan. MERRAC also manages MERRAC specific projects.

Read more about MERRAC and its activities here.

Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC)

Located at the Pacific Geographical Institute (PGI) of the Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Vladivostok, Russian Federation, POMRAC is responsible for cooperative measures related to atmospheric deposition of contaminants and direct inputs of contaminants to the marine and coastal environment with river discharge. Since 2007, POMRAC started a new project on the integrated coastal zone and river basin management.

The Centre coordinates NOWPAP activities related to the development of Ecological Quality Objectives and indicators and produces regular State of the Marine and Coastal Environment Reports. Recently, POMRAC activities started addressing marine litter issues, including the assessment of microplastics inputs with river discharge in the NOWPAP region.

Read more about POMRAC activities here.

F. Areas of work

NOWPAP Working through its four Regional Activity Centres (RACs), each located in a Member State and coordinated by the Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU), NOWPAP's activities are concentrating in the four core areas aimed to prevent and reverse increasing degradation of the marine and coastal environment in one of the world’s most impacted by human activities and natural changes region:

Support Ecosystem-Based Integrated Coastal And River Basin Management

Given the contrasting variety of natural and socio-economic conditions of marine and coastal areas, an ecosystem-based approach has been found to be most effective for the sustainable development of the Northwest Pacific marine and coastal environment. NOWPAP, in collaboration with partners, supports the Member States applying ecosystem-based management policies, tools and practices for healthy and productive marine and coastal ecosystems.

Assess Status Of The Marine And Coastal Environment

NOWPAPs work in monitoring and analysing pressures on the marine and coastal environment are summarized in the regular integrated ecosystem assessment reports. The Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC), based in Vladivostok, leads NOWPAP monitoring of marine pollutants, particularly those from atmospheric and riverine sources as well as direct inputs of contaminants to the marine and coastal environment. POMRAC publishes the NOWPAP flagship State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER). The third SOMER to be published in the next few years will be a holistic assessment of atmospheric and land- and sea-based pollution threats to Northwest Pacific marine and coastal ecosystems. POMRAC has also developed Ecological Quality Objectives as benchmarks to assess threats to the region’s marine and coastal environment from anthropogenic pressures, alien species, eutrophication, contaminants and marine litter. Sectoral targets and indicators related to SDGs indicators for the Ecological Quality Objectives are being formulated.

The Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC) is located in Beijing and promotes regional cooperation and exchange of information on the Northwest Pacific marine and coastal environment. DINRAC maintains the following databases (available at the DINRAC website): on major environmental data, on NOWPAP coastal and marine environmental Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing applications, on marine litter, on coastal and marine nature reserves, NOWPAP publications, and NOWPAP institutions and experts. DINRAC also hosts the Northwest Pacific Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

NOWPAP

Prevent And Reduce Land- And Sea-Based Pollution

The densely populated NOWPAP region, a global economic powerhouse sitting astride major commercial shipping routes, is subject to multiple anthropogenic pressures, manifested in increasing marine litter, eutrophication and marine oil and chemical spill incidents. NOWPAP supports the Member States with capacity building, data and information, guidelines, and best practices to prevent and reduce land- and sea-based pollution. A new area of focus is microplastics pollution. Home to one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the NOWPAP region is highly vulnerable to oil and hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) spills at sea. The Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) based in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, established jointly by UNEP and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), promotes regional cooperation in responding to marine pollution emergencies through the NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan (RCP) adopted in 2008. Full-scale oil and HNS spill response exercises are held regularly by maritime authorities of the member states.

NOWPAP has been responding since 2005 to the growing threat of marine litter in the Northwest Pacific. This includes data collection, assessments, development of best practices, and regional coordination. Participation of all stakeholders is central to the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) adopted by the Member States in 2008. Regional Activity Centres and RCU are working jointly in this area. Sectoral guidelines for marine litter management focused on the fishing, shipping and tourism industries have been published. Public awareness and participation have been mobilized through annual International Coastal Clean-up Campaigns organized in each NOWPAP country since 2006. Governments, the private sector and civil society have been involved in the reduction, monitoring and removal of marine litter from Northwest Pacific coasts and seas. Since 2015, marine litter issues in the region are discussed annually in the NOWPAP and TEMM (Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting involving China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) Joint Marine Litter Workshops.

Conserve marine and coastal biodiversity

The wealth of fauna and flora inhabiting Northwest Pacific seas and shores faces a growing threat from alien species, habitat destruction, over-fishing and climate change. NOWPAP continues investing its resources in biodiversity assessments and supports the Member States with planning and application of area-based conservation tools. Work in this area will be capped with the development of a Regional Action Plan on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Conservation by the end of the Medium-term Strategy period in 2023. The Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) based in Toyama, assesses threats to the Northwest Pacific’s marine and coastal biodiversity from invasive species and harmful algal blooms, eutrophication, habitat modifications and other pressures. CEARAC assessments have generated significant new technical data to support national policy responses to environmental threats from eutrophication, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms (HABs), marine litter, and pressures on seagrass habitats.

G. Partnerships

NOWPAP

Recognising the growing interconnectedness of environmental challenges, NOWPAP engages in issue-based collaboration with major stakeholders, including other Regional Seas programmes, regional and global multilateral partners, national institutions based on common principles and values and the shared goal of marine and coastal conservation.

Strengthening regional cooperation through partnership-building and resource mobilization is one of the major priorities of the NOWPAP Medium-term Strategies (MTS). Strategic aims of NOWPAP is to strengthen and, where necessary, upgrade all core NOWPAP functions - environmental assessment, management and policy advice as well as institutional and financial arrangements – while moving towards further integration of various activities, operational integration between the four Regional Activity Centres and a stronger coordinating role for the Regional Coordinating Unit. NOWPAP will further align its activities with regional and global priorities and institutions, while expanding its partnership base. Communications and outreach are an integral part of this priority area.

These activities correspond to Tasks (b), (d) and (e) of Objective 5 of the NOWPAP Action Plan, while also contributing to the achievement of several targets of SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

NOWPAP Regional And Global Partners

NOWPAP is a member of the UNEP Regional Seas Programme and signed the Agreement of Cooperation between UNEP and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2014. It is also a non-country partner or collaborator of the following regional institutions: the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) (ex-officio member of several thematic groups); non-country partner of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA); partner in the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC); partner in the Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); partner of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) Yellow Sea LME Project Phase II; and partner in the Coordinating Body for the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA). NOWPAP works on marine litter issues closely with the Tripartite Environmental Ministers Meeting (TEMM).

NOWPAP activities are implemented by a wide network of experts and institutions in the NOWPAP Member States.

Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES)

Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)

Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM)

National Institute of Fisheries Science of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea

Biodiversity Conservation Center, Russian Federation

NOWPAP Global and Regional Partners

Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among China, Japan and Korea (TEMM)

The environment ministers of the three countries have been holding the Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among China, Japan and Korea (TEMM) on annual basis since 1999. Within this framework, the three countries aim to promote environmental management, to take a leading role in regional environmental management, and also to contribute to global environmental improvement.

Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals including:

the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity);
the sustainable use of its components;
and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

In other words, its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It is often seen as the key document regarding sustainable development. The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. At the 2010 10th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October in Nagoya, Japan, the Nagoya Protocol was adopted.

Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)

The Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Seas Region (the East Asian Seas Action Plan) was approved in 1981 stimulated by concerns on the effects and sources of marine pollution. Initially, the action plan involved five countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand). In 1994, it was revised to involve another five countries (Australia, Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea and Vietnam) and up to this date the action plan has nine participating countries (Australia is no longer a participating country). The main components of East Asian Seas Action Plan are assessment of the effects of human activities on the marine environment, control of coastal pollution, protection of mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs, and waste management.

UNEP Ecosystem Division’s Source-to-Sea Unit

The Source-to-Sea Unit addresses the connectivity between terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems.

It aims to be a source of conceptual and practical guidance to be drawn upon by national and/or regional authorities for devising and implementing sustained action to prevent, reduce, control and/or eliminate marine degradation from land-based activities.

International Environmental Technology Center (IETC)

The mandate of IETC, as agreed in Decision 16/34 of UNEP Governing Council, is the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (EST) to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This was reinforced by the GC’s adoption of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building in its 23rd Session in February 2005.

IETC's efforts in the field of waste management are projected towards 4 directions:

Demonstration / Pilot projects
Technology support
Capacity building
Secretariat of the Global Partnership for Waste Management (GPWM)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. Shipping is an essential component of any programme for future sustainable economic growth. Through IMO, the Organization’s Member States, civil society and the shipping industry are already working together to ensure a continued and strengthened contribution towards a green economy and growth in a sustainable manner. The promotion of sustainable shipping and sustainable maritime development is one of the major priorities of IMO in the coming years. Energy efficiency, new technology and innovation, maritime education and training, maritime security, maritime traffic management and the development of the maritime infrastructure: the development and implementation, through IMO, of global standards covering these and other issues will underpin IMO's commitment to provide the institutional framework necessary for a green and sustainable global maritime transportation system.

IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

The IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), an Intergovernmental Scientific Organization, was established in 1989 by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC/UNESCO) to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in marine research, ocean observations and services, as well as capacity building in the Western Pacific and adjacent seas, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of governance, sustainable development and protection of the marine environment. WESTPAC currently consists of 22 Member States mainly in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Pacific and the eastern Indian Ocean, with its membership open to all interested Member States of IOC/UNESCO willing to participate actively in the work of the Sub-Commission.

North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)

The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), an intergovernmental scientific organization, was established in 1992 to promote and coordinate marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas. Its present members are Canada, Japan, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America. FUTURE (Forecasting and Understanding Trends, Uncertainty and Responses of North Pacific Marine Ecosystems ) is an integrative Scientific Program undertaken by the member nations and affiliates of PICES to understand how marine ecosystems in the North Pacific respond to climate change and human activities, to forecast ecosystem status based on a contemporary understanding of how nature functions, and to communicate new insights to its members, governments, stakeholders and the public.

North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Corporation (NEASPEC)

North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC) is a comprehensive intergovernmental cooperation framework addressing environmental challenges in North-East Asia.

As a follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in 1992, NEASPEC was established in 1993 by six member States - China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation - to promote environmental cooperation in the subregion.

North-East Asian countries have been increasingly exposed to environmental problems coupled with the rapid economic growth of the recent decades. As the subregional cooperation framework, NEASPEC aims to redress the dichotomy between economic growth and environmental protection to improve environmental sustainability of the subregion.

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) is an intergovernmental organisation operating in East Asia to foster and sustain healthy and resilient oceans, coasts, communities and economies across the region. The 2006 Haikou Partnership Agreement established PEMSEA as the region's coordinating mechanism for the implementation the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). PEMSEA carries out this mandate through these operating mechanisms: East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress held every three years, East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council, a regular body that provides the policy and operational guidance for the progress of the implementation of the SDS-SEA, and PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) that supports SDS-SEA implementation.

H. Ongoing projects

The NOWPAP Programmes of Work (PoW) for the two-year cycle describes the approach to progressing towards Medium-term Strategy objectives. They set targets, indicators, and activities as well as budgets for each biennial cycle. Biennial activities and budgets are based on recommendations made at the Focal Points Meetings of each RAC, held a year before the biennial cycle begins, and are consequently approved by the NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM). The biennial programmes of work adopted by the IGM serve as a basis for detailing annual work programmes and budgets of RACs and the RCU. The RACs’ work plans will include responsibilities and major partners, budget allocation from the Trust Fund and external resources (where applicable) as well as specific performance indicators derived from the Biennial Programme of Work. Progress in the implementation of the Biennial Programme of Work is reported annually and activities and budgets will be realigned or readjusted at the NOWPAP IGM. Monitoring and reporting on financing leveraged by RACs, RCU, and other partners for the implementation of NOWPAP activities is reported annually at IGM.

Approved NOWPAP PoW for the last three bienniums are provided below.

NOWPAP PoW for 2014-2015

NOWPAP PoW for 2016-2017

NOWPAP PoW for 2018-2019

NOWPAP PoW for 2020-2021

I. Key achievements

Activities of NOWPAP have resulted in a solid outcomes in the Northwest Pacific region and beyond:

Broad consultative process
Cooperation on Agenda 2030 (SDGs, KMGBF, etc.)
Involvement through UNEP in global ocean agenda
Close links regional networks with national governments, science and academia
Good cooperation on specific topics (monitoring, assessment, shipping, pollution reduction, etc.)
Building atmosphere of trust between people and countries

Among some of the notable NOWPAP achievements over the past twenty years of cooperation to address the above challenges were adoption and implementation of the two Regional Action Plans: NOWPAP Regional Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substances Spill Contingency Plan (2005) and NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (2008), establishment of the NOWPAP database and regional information management system, publication of scientific and policy-relevant regional reports on the state of the marine and coastal environment and emerging issues such as marine litter, eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, integrated coastal zone management, and persistent organic pollutants, strengthened capacities of technical experts and policy specialists, and the increased awareness about the state of the marine and coastal environment among different stakeholders in the Northwest Pacific region.

J. Interesting facts (About the Convention or the Contracting Parties)