On 21-23 April 2017, Dr. LIU Ning introduced the progress of NOWPAP and explored the possibility of cooperation with countries in the Western Pacific region at the 11th Intergovernmental Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC-XI) in Qingdao, China. The meeting brought together governmental officials and academia from the East, South and Southeast Asia, the USA, and the Russian Federation to discuss how to improve science-policy interface, enhance international cooperation on marine science, observations and service, and to improve capacities to address challenges to sustainable development in the Western Pacific and its adjacent regions.
The meeting reviewed IOC-WESTPAC strategic directions, the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national level and contribution of the IOC and WESTPAC. The meeting has also evaluated related regional programmes, projects and working groups for the period of May 2015 to April 2017. IOC-WESTPAC activities address ocean processes and climate in the Indo-Pacific, marine biodiversity conservation, healthy ecosystems, seafood security and safety, enhanced knowledge of emerging ocean science issue, capacity development for marine science, and observations and services.
In the session on research on micro-plastics, Dr. LIU briefed participants about the UNEP’s #CleanSeas campaign, the UN Environment study on marine litter responding to recommendations of the Second United Nations Environment Assembly, and the progress of research on micro-plastics made by the NOWPAP’s Pollution Monitoring Activity Center. Meeting participants invited NOWPAP to share UN Environment’s documents on marine litter and cooperate with IOC-WESTPAC on the research of micro-plastics that is expected to be considered under the upcoming NOWPAP Mid-Term Strategy for 2018-2023.
