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).
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 10th 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 12th IGM held in Xiamen, China approves the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI)
2008 The 13th 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.
