News

Upon request from the youth group of SHINTO shrine priests in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, the NOWPAP Coordinator made an online presentation on UN, UNEP, Regional Seas Programme, and NOWPAP on 23 January 2024.

This group consisted of priests under 40 working for SHINTO shrines in Toyama Prefecture, Japan.

A total of 12 participants joined the 2-hour presentation, covering the overall introduction of UN, UNEP, Regional Seas Programme, and NOWPAP.

In a concerted effort to bolster collaboration in responding to marine pollution incidents, the Korea Coast Guard organised an international workshop in Yeosu, Republic of Korea, on November 30, 2023.

NOWPAP and COBSEA participated in the Global Plastics Summit (11-12 October 2023, Bangkok, Thailand) to facilitate discussions during a special side-event on Regional Governance

On 12 September 2023, NOWPAP RCU Toyama office staff members participated in the annual beach clean-up campaign at Iwasehama Beach in Toyama City, Toyama, Japan.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted during the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), represents an ambitious roadmap toward achieving the global vision of a harmonious world with nature by 2050.

The Jeju International Island Symposium 2023 was held in Jeju, Republic of Korea, from August 30 to September 1, 2023.

Amid the ongoing challenges to our ocean's health, an event took place virtually on 1-3 August 2023—the Intersessional Workshop of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fisheries Bodies. This gathering served as a platform for representatives from various regional and international organisations to review progress, foster cooperation, and discuss the implementation of critical global environmental agreements.

NOWPAP virtually participated in the 15th East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting, organized by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) on the 26th and 27th of July 2023, in a hybrid format.

Fuzhou, China - On 2 June 2023, the North-West Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) actively participated in the esteemed "Marine Economy and 'Dual Carbon' Strategy" Forum and the First Council Meeting of the 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, held in collaboration with the Fuzhou Municipal Government of China.

The NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) was recently invited by the Busan Foundation of International Cooperation (BFIC) to present on international cooperation in environmental governance at a seminar for university students in Busan, Republic of Korea.

On 12th April 2023, the Source to Sea Pollution Unit from the Ecosystems Division of UNEP held a bilateral meeting with the NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) to explore opportunities to enhance cooperation on pollution prevention. During the meeting, the Source to Sea Pollution Unit provided an update on their ongoing activities related to nutrient management, the progress of the working groups on sustainable nitrogen, and the development of regional action plans on nutrients in various geographical regions.

Bangkok, Thailand, 29 March 2023 – The Secretariats of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), the United Nations Environment Programme, UN-Habitat, and the Government of the Republic of Korea co-organised a side event titled ‘Catalysing Local and National Action on Plastic Pollution to Achieve Regional Priorities and Global Goals in South-East and East Asia’ within the framework of the 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (

On Tue, Feb 21, 2023, the Heads and Coordinators of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans had the privilege to meet with UNEP Executive Director, Ms Inger Anderson.

Human activities are increasingly contributing to the proliferation of eutrophication, which results in significant negative impacts on coastal ecosystems. The appearance of red tides and dead zones or the decline in fishery products can be a manifestation of the effects of eutrophication. Therefore, eutrophication monitoring activities can provide valuable information for preventive eutrophication management efforts.

Habitat destruction, pollution, non-indigenous invasive species, over-fishing, and climate change have threatened marine biological communities in East Asia.

NOWPAP was invited to the 2022 International Organization Advisory Group meeting, which was organized by the Busan Metropolitan Government and the Busan Foundation for International Cooperation on 1 November 2022 in the Westin Chosun Hotel in Busan. Representatives of thirteen international organizations in the Republic of Korea attended the meeting.

Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fisheries Bodies gathered in the 3rd Meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Gl

NOWPAP was invited to the marine policy session of the World Ocean Forum on 27 October 2022 in Busan, Republic of Korea. The 2022 World Ocean Forum is the 16th edition of the Davos Forum in the ocean field. The Forum was organized by the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the Busan Metropolitan Government, and Busan Daily News. The theme of the Forum is "Ocean as Uniters, Pursuing Global Cooperation for the good of the planet”.

NOWPAP participated in the 2022 Annual Conference of the North Pacific Marine Science Organisation and updated the meeting participants on its activities at the Marine Environmental Quality Committee meeting in Busan, the Republic of Korea, on 28 September 2022.

The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) co-organized a Technical Session titled “Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Global Action on Marine Litter in the East Asian Seas and Northwest Pacific’  on 20 September 2022 at the 7th Internatio

World Seagrass Conference 2022 & the 14th International Seagrass Biology Workshop (WSC2022 & ISBW14) were held in Annapolis, Maryland, USA on 7-12 August 2022.  Dr.

NOWPAP was invited to the 14th Meeting of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council virtually on 27-28 July 2022. The meeting reviewed the key accomplishments of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and discussed the 2023-2027 Implementation Plan (IP) of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).

The Climate Technology Center& Network (CTCN) Partnership and Liaison office was launched by the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Incheon Metropolitan Government,  and the United Nations Environment Programme in Songdo, Incheon, ROK, on 21 July 2022.

The Climate Technology Center& Network promotes the development and transfer of climate technology among countries. It will provide developing countries with the necessary technical assistance for climate technologies.

The public symposium “Future Action of Science and Policy on Global Chemicals Management towards 2030 Agenda and Beyond” was organised in Toyama, Japan on June 13-16, 2022, by three Societies on Environmental Chemicals, Japan Society of Environmental Chemistry (JEC), Japan Society of Endocrine Disruptors Research (JSEDR), and Japan Society of Environmental Toxicology (JSET).