I. NOWPAP Progress

1. Brainstorm on the Revision of the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter

2. Review the Progress in Addressing Marine Litter in the Northwest Pacific Region

3.Showcasing NOWPAP’s Efforts in Addressing Marine Litter in the Incheon Ocean Forum

4. Enhance the Compatibility between Regional Seas Programmes and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

5. NOWPAP Congratulates the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Project on its Achievements

6. Combatting Marine Plastic Pollution: Possible Roles and Contribution of Regional Instruments in Strengthening Global Governance

II. Upcoming Events

III. Marine Digest

Brainstorm on the Revision of the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter

The 2020 NOWPAP Marine Litter Focal Points Meeting, organized virtually by the NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit on December 3, 2020, discussed how to revise the NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter.

Review the Progress in Addressing Marine Litter in the Northwest Pacific Region

Policymakers, scientists, officers from international and non-governmental organizations gathered virtually on December 2, 2020, to discuss how to improve the regional cooperation in the prevention, monitoring, and removal of marine litter in the Northwest Pacific Region.

Showcasing NOWPAP’s Efforts in Addressing Marine Litter in the Incheon Ocean Forum

The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) presented its efforts in addressing marine litter in the first Incheon International Ocean Forum (IIOF), which was held on 19-20 November 2020.

Enhance the Compatibility between Regional Seas Programmes and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

UNEP and EC organized a virtual workshop on the Regional Seas Programmes and the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework on 27-28 October 2020.

NOWPAP Assessment Tools Highlighted in 9th Geo for Good Summit

The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) introduced their eutrophication assessment and seagrass mapping tools in the 9th Geo for Good Summit, held virtually on 20-21 October 2020.

NOWPAP Congratulates the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Project on its Achievements

NOWPAP congratulated the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) Project for its regional governance achievements on protecting the marine environment in the 5th Interim YSLME Commission Council (ICC) meeting, which was held on October 19, 2020 virtually. Dr. Yegor Volovik stressed that YSLME is a long-time partner of NOWPAP. The two organizations have cooperated closely in the fields, such as addressing marine litter and biodiversity conservation. And the completing of a project is a new beginning for cross borders cooperation.

Combatting Marine Plastic Pollution: Possible Roles and Contribution of Regional Instruments in Strengthening Global Governance

On October 9, 2020, a global workshop was organized by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), located in Potsdam, Germany. The workshop built on the results of the Marine Regions Forum organized by the Government of Germany in October 2019. More details on the Marine Regions Forum could be found at https://www.prog-ocean.org/marine-regions-forum/.

Upcoming Event

The Virtual Third Extraordinary NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting will be held on January 27, 2021.

Marine Digest

South Korea to Invest $870 Million Developing Eco-Friendly Shipping.

“South Korea promotes eco-friendly shipping South Korean shipbuilders will benefit from the government Green Ship-K Promotion Strategy (file photo)

The South Korean government announced a broad initiative to encourage the development of eco-friendly shipping and address marine pollution issues. Discussed as part of a broader countrywide economic planning session, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Industry jointly committed to investing more than $870 million between 2022 and 2031 to develop and promote innovative technology for eco-friendly ships.”(The Maritime Executive)

Marine Plankton faces the threat of extinction as the planet warms.

“Marine plankton—the foundation of many marine ecosystems, producers of about half of the oxygen we breathe, and regulators of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere—may be at risk of extinction as our planet continues to warm, according to a study led by Ph.D. candidate Sarah Trubovitz and published in the journal Nature Communications. Plankton living in the world's coldest waters surrounding Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, are at the highest risk of disappearing as temperatures rise. In an investigation of a large group of microscopic plankton called radiolarians and their reaction to temperature shifts during the Neogene period several million years ago, it was discovered that large temperature changes led to dramatic decreases in polar radiolarian biodiversity. Trubovitz's findings contradict previous assumptions that marine plankton did and would migrate to follow favorable climate conditions in the event of large temperature shifts, instead of confirming extinction as a more likely response. The implications of this research for marine plankton in our rapidly warming climate are dire.”(NEVADA Today)

Great Transitions: Doubling down on the Sustainable Development Goals

“This year has exposed the world’s extraordinary fragility. Managing a pandemic is hard enough. Doing so while addressing other urgent stresses—like inequality, violence, and climate change—adds to the degree of difficulty. What should be done to move forward? This was the question tackled by 17 Rooms 2020, a yearly convening of leading experts and practitioners brought together by the Brookings Institution and The Rockefeller Foundation to channel ideas and energy into actions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." (Brookings)

World Bank Illustrates SDG Data Trends with Interactive Atlas

“The World Bank has released the 2020 edition of its SDG Atlas. The resource uses interactive storytelling and innovative data visualizations to expand understanding of the 17 SDGs and selected targets' indicators and trends. The Atlas introduces concepts to inform readers about how some of the SDGs are measured and where data are available. It highlights information on the emerging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the indicators and trends.”(IISD)

Scientists Find Microplastics Pollution on Mount Everest

"New Delhi: Scientists have discovered microplastic pollution in the snow near Mount Everest's peak, according to studies published in the One Earth Journal. (The Wire Science)"

The world needs a treaty to regulate plastic pollution management.

“LAST week, the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur convened a webinar on plastic pollution's contribution to climate change, part of a preliminary programme to next November's world climate summit in Glasgow (COP26), co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Italy.

The webinar began with a video message from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who days before had announced a 10-point national plan to reach net-zero greenhouse emissions, including a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030."(The Straits Times)

Conserve freshwater or land biodiversity? Why not both? New study asks

“Integrating aquatic biodiversity into conservation planning could yield substantial benefits for freshwater species with minimal cost to terrestrial creatures, according to a study published in Science last month.” (Mongabay)

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