Why does regional seas matter?
Regional seas organizational structures
The Regional Seas and their governance processes, with regular meetings of governing bodies (Conference of Parties, Intergovernmental Meetings etc), senior officials as well as technical bodies (such as thematic working groups), contribute to strengthening UNEP’s strategic regional presence, propelling the work of UNEP towards regional and global consensus and policy coherence on key issues relating to the environmental dimension of sustainable development, as envisaged in the UNEP Medium Term Strategy 2018-2021.
Regional Coordinating Units (RCUs)
In the regions, the Regional Seas programme work through Secretariats or Regional Coordinating Units (RCUs) and Regional Activity Centers (RACs). The RCU is the nerve center and command post of the conventions and action plan's activities and has the overall and practical responsibility for the implementation of the decisions of member countries (or contracting parties) regarding the operation of the action plan.
The RCU is responsible for
- Following up and implementation of legal documents, the programme of work and of strategies and policies adopted by the member countries.
- Carrying out the diplomatic, political and public relations functions of the action plan.
- Cooperating with governments, other UN and non-UN agencies and NGOs, and facilitates the capacity building of its own regional activity centers and of member governments.
Regional Activity Centers (RACs)
UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme is supported by a strong network of regional activity centres which provide specialized support on assessments, research, capacity building, etc. The RACs serve the member states by carrying out specialized activities of the action plan as agreed and guided by the Conference of the Parties or intergovernmental decisions. RACs are an integral part of the action plan and report directly to the RCU. They are financially supported by the contracting parties and by the host country through the financial mechanisms of the action plan.
They are:
1. Mediterranean Action Plan/ Barcelona Convention
- The Programme for the Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution in the Mediterranean (MED POL), in Greece
- The Plan Bleu Regional Activity Centre (PB/RAC) based in Marseille, France
- Sustainable Consumption and Production Regional activity Centre (SCP/RAC), in Spain
- Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC), in Tunisia
- Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC), in Croatia
- Information and Communication Regional Activity Centre (INFO/RAC), in Italy
- Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) jointly with IMO in Malta
2. Caribbean Action Plan/ Cartagena Convention
- Centre of Engineering and Environmental Management of Coasts and Bays in Cuba
- Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Centre - Wider Caribbean (REMPEITC-Carib) – Caribe, in Curacao
3. Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)
4. Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP).
- Special Monitoring and Coastal Environment Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) in Japan
- Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC) in China
- Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) in Korea
- Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Centre (POMRAC) in the Russian Federation
Functioning of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans
Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans have supported member states and contracting parties to address marine and coastal issues through a range of measures and approaches. The regional seas programmes and/or their contracting parties have developed various strategic documents that set clear objectives, goals and targets for their regions. The documents range from:
- Regional Seas Conventions, Protocols and Action Plans
Most regional seas (in the 1970’s to 1990’s) have adopted a Convention for the protection of the marine and coastal environment, or an Action Plan, or both. The focus of all these conventions is on pollution and the marine environment. Some Regional Seas have adopted thematic protocols according to their regional priorities (Mediterranean, Caribbean, Eastern Africa, Caspian, ROPME, South-East Pacific). Examples include protocols on pollution from land-based sources, specially protected areas and biodiversity, exploration, exploitation and emergencies (such as oil spills). The regional seas action plans, vary in approach but all outline the mandate, scope, objectives and major actions,along with institutional and coordination arrangements.
- Strategic Action Programmes (SAPs)
Those regional seas with countries that are eligible for Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding, have received funding to develop Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis reports (TDAs) to first identify the main causes of environmental degradation and transboundary issues, followed by Strategic Action Programmes (SAPs) to elaborate the objectives, targets and actions required to address this causes. These TDAs and SAPs have been developed at the Large Marine Ecosystem level, rather than for Regional seas, and therefore in some cases more than one SAP may apply to a Regional Sea. Whilst a similar approach has been taken for the development of all SAPs that incorporate the ecosystem approach and based on the TDA/SAP Methodology developed within the IW:Learn project, there are differences in the type of objectives of targets defined, according to the understanding of each regional team responsible for the development of each SAP. Typically, the majority of SAPs include an overarching vision, a series of goals or objectives, followed by targets, indicators and in some cases activities. The GEF have continued their support in the funding of SAP implementation projects, with several of these projects beginning implementation from 2017 onwards. It is expected that during the process of SAP implementation, SAP targets and indicators will be revised and monitored.
- Regional Seas Strategies and Work programmes
In order to elaborate on the implementation of the Regional Seas Conventions and/or Action Plans, each region has developed strategies and/or work-programmes. Each presents the main objectives, actions, and in several cases targets and indicators for the period noted, although formats and presentations differ. The time frame is slightly different between regions, varying between 5-10 years. Two of the UNEP administered regions (Mediterranean, East Asian Seas) plus the Baltic region are aligned timewise with the UNEP Medium Term Strategy 2018-2021, to be completed in 2021. This includes: • Mediterranean: UNEP/MAP Mid-Term Strategy (2016-2021); • East Asian Seas: COBSEA Strategic Directions (2018 -2022); • Northwest Pacific: NOWPAP Medium-term Strategy (2018-2023); • East Africa Region: Nairobi Convention Work-Programme (2018-2022); • North-East Atlantic: Environment Strategy and thematic strategies (2010-2020); • Baltic Sea: Baltic Sea Action Plan (2007-2021); and • Artic: Arctic Marine Strategic Plan (2015-2025).
- Ecosystem Approach
Some regional seas conventions and action plans are in the process of integrating the ecosystem approach into their existing strategies, plans and monitoring, in addition to the TDAs and SAPs. The North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), Baltic (HELCOM) and Mediterranean (UNEP/MAP) have developed an approach that is comparable and in line with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).This includes the definition of Ecological Objectives, targets and indicators for monitoring.
- Other strategies and action plans
The regional seas have in addition developed several other strategies and/or actions in particular thematic strategies on land-based sources of pollution, marine and coastal biodiversity conservation, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (ICZM), pollution from shipping and oil, gas exploration/exploitation marine litter, sustainable development, adaptation to climate change, coastal zone management, marine protected areas, invasive species and others.
Global and regional programmes
There are a number of developments in the global and regional marine policy debates that could provide additional opportunities for the regional seas programmes to enhance their respective programme directions and developments.
- GEF International Waters: The International Waters focal area was created as one of the original focal areas of the Global Environment Facility in1992. It is the only focal area in which the GEF does not function as a financial mechanism for a global multilateral environmental convention. The marine and coastal portfolio of GEF International Waters projects typically include projects targeting so-called Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the USA and following the five-module approach of the NOAA LME Programme. GEF takes the approach of developing transboundary diagnostic analysis and strategic action programme for each LME, which is analogous to the assessment and regional seas Action Plans mechanisms within the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. The GEF international waters projects highlighted a need to apply an ecosystem-based approach at the scale of Large Marine Ecosystems and, possibly, follow up to address actual threats and sources of stress to the LME functions and integrity initially triggered by GEF funding and by associated and follow-up investments.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) : The June 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was a major landmark in the development of the global goals (SDGs), which picked up on the Millennium Development Goals. The conference brought together the United Nations Systems, Member States, international organisations, NGOs and the private sector, to launch the process to develop a new set of goals to serve as a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations Member States in the UN Summit held New York in September 2015 as a guild to the implementation of the post 2015 development agenda – known as the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The Regional Seas Programme provide a unique institutional framework that facilitate progress towards the attainment of ocean-related SDG targets. Regional seas conventions and action plans together with their strategies, objectives and targets have been aligned to SDGs. As such, the programmes support member states to implement and monitor SDGs relevant to marine and coastal environment. In 2016, the United Nations Environment Assembly acknowledged the unique role of the regional sea’s conventions and action plans in the implementation and reporting of the SDG 14 and other ocean related SDG targets in partnership with other regional organizations like regional fishery bodies.
- The Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: The Post 2020 Global Biodiversity framework (GBF) set a new ambitious plan as a stepping-stone towards the 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature. “The GBF will be adopted during COP 15 - Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Kunming, China, on the second quarter of 2021. The new framework for biodiversity conservation builds upon the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The framework will be implemented at the national level, supported by action at the regional and global scales. For decades regional seas have developed many frameworks/instruments for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (such as protected areas and biodiversity protocols) that can support delivery of GBF. The UNEP/European Commission project “Regional Seas Programmes under the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework” seeks to analyse RSPs and their role in protecting the world’s marine biodiversity to achieve global targets – SDGs and GBF. The projects also aim to identify opportunities for streamlining regional seas work with current global biodiversity targets as well as provide recommendations on how coordination and reporting mechanisms can be increased. Some identified opportunities for GBF and RSPs are: (a) alignment of the upcoming Regional Seas Global Strategic Directions (2021-2023), and Regional Seas Core Set indicators with GBF; and (b) the Integration of the GBF into new regional policies and protocols
- Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: In efforts to halt unsustainable use of resources in high seas – areas where on state has sole responsibility for management, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to develop an international legally binding instrument on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) in 2015, under the framework of UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Regional seas offer an enabling environment for the implementation of Part XII of UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of “The future we want.” In its resolution 2/10, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) encouraged parties to regional seas to consider the possibility of increasing the regional coverage to their instruments in line with international law. To date, five regional seas have mandates incorporating areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), whilst others are exploring opportunities for ABNJ. Following five years of preparatory work, the new instrument is currently under intergovernmental negotiations, with several regional supporting contracting parties to participate fully in the process.
- Marine litter and microplastics: The June 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) launched the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) in response to the global problem of marine litter. Regional Sea Programmes participate in GPML and 11 regional seas have Regional Marine Litter Action Plans. The action plans offer policy, regulatory and technical measures and obligations for waste management, sustainable consumption and production, monitoring and enforcement of national legislation, as well as partnership and coordination among all actors. Marine litter remain a transboundary issue that require action at national, regional and global level. Regional Seas Programmes foster partnerships and coordinate actions to address the land-based sources of marine pollution including plastics.
- The Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP 21 - Twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) convened in December 2015, Paris, France, and came into force November 2016. The goal of the treaty is to keep the global temperature well below 2 degrees Celsius this century and pursue efforts to limit further temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Paris Agreement also state the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including the oceans. Four Regional Seas Conventions have legally binding protocols to reduce carbon emission resulting from offshore oil and gas exploration and mining. Several other regions have established voluntary measures to assist member states to achieve the Paris agreement target.
- United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030): The Decade of Ocean Science is interlinked to the Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly, SDG 14 among other ocean-related goals and targets. Led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the initiative offers a framework to strengthen connections and weave partnerships between all communities working to study, conserve and sustainably use the ocean and its resources. The decade will kick-off in June 2021, in an event hosted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany in Berlin. The Regional Seas Programme institutional framework support implementation of majority of ocean-related initiatives. Scientific research is embedded in regional seas work, and it is anticipated that regional seas will play a major role in the delivery of the decade of ocean science. Regional seas identify and respond to gaps in data and information, undertake periodic assessments on the status of marine and coastal environment, and enhance technical capacities of their member states. The Decade of Ocean Science offers an opportunity for regional seas to work collaboratively with other stakeholders in ocean research to bridge the marine science-policy gaps.
- United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): The Decade on Ecosystem Restoration was proclaimed by the UN Environment Assembly in March 2019 to halt the degradation of ecosystems and scale up the restoration of degraded or destroyed ecosystems to achieve global goals. The Decade will be led by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Decade will be officially launch with World Environment Day 2021 – 5 June. For more than 45 years, the Regional Seas Programme has been working towards protection of oceans and their resources, as well as the restoration destroyed ecosystems i.e. seagrasses, mangroves and corals. Regional seas include mechanisms for promoting restoration of the coastal ecosystem (including development of restoration guidelines, knowledge hubs for sharing experience and best practices) which will be useful in the achievement of the decade.
The Regional Seas Programme works cooperatively with a wide array of stakeholders and partners including governments, financial institutions, regional and international organisations, academic and research institutions, private sector, civil sector, as well as other relevant United Nations agencies. To strengthen cooperation, a number of Regional Seas have formalised partnerships with some entities including Regional fisheries bodies and international organisations. Read more on regional seas partners by clicking here
