Changwon Declaration Toward an Ocean-based Blue Economy : Moving Ahead with the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia

Signed during the Fourth Ministerial Forum on the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia on 12 July 2012, the Changwon Declaration reflects on the progress made over the past three years with the implementation of the SDS-SEA, and ensures the continued progress towards a sustainable future, including the development of an ocean-based blue economy. Ministers from 10 countries of the East Asian Seas (EAS) signed the declaration. The Declaration is the region’s support for the implementation of theRio+20 Outcomes embodied in "The Future We Want," and other relevant international and regional commitments related to coasts and oceans. With the signing, Ministers and senior representatives from Cambodia, PR China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, the Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam adopted the Five-Year Regional Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) for 2012-2016. Thailand participated as an observer. The Declaration enables the development of an ocean-based blue economy in the region through the strengthened support for SDS-SEA implementation and other relevant initiatives. Under the Changwon Declaration, PEMSEA as the SDS-SEA implementing arm, targets the following changes in coastal and marine governance: (a) a self-sustained regional partnership mechanism for the implementation of the SDS-SEA; and (b) national coastal and ocean policies and supporting institutional arrangements in place in at least 70% of Partner Countries.