Xiamen, PR China — The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) ushered in four new regular members and a change in leadership during their Fourth Executive Committee Meeting held in Xiamen on 27 May.

 

The Executive Committee agreed to accept the membership applications of Shima City, Japan; Northern Selangor, Malaysia; and Changyi City and Qinzhou City, both from PR China. The formal induction of the four sites will be held at the General Assembly of the forthcoming PNLG Forum 2013.

 

 

Tokyo, Japan — NOWPAP representatives attended the Forum on 14-15 March in Tokyo which was organized by JEAN (Japan Environmental Action Network).

The Forum reviewed the implementation of the "Law for the Promotion of Marine Litter Disposal" enacted in 2009 in Japan and the role of NGOs in raising public awareness on marine litter and galvanizing local actions, as demonstrated by JEAN and Ocean Conservancy (OC) involvement in the implementation of a Japanese government-sponsored project dealing with the 2011 tsunami-generated marine debris.

 

Kobe, Japan — At the 18th Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) held on 10-12 April 2013 in Kobe, Japan, a proposal submitted by Okinawa Ocean Culture & Environment Action Network in collaboration with NOWPAP on promoting International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was accepted for funding.

 

 

Busan, RO Korea — NOWPAP participated in the Global Gathering 2013 in Busan, RO Korea, displaying UNEP and NOWPAP posters, brochures, publications and promotional items to the public on 25 May.

 

 

Manila, Philippines — The Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) marked 20 years of spearheading the sustainable development of the East Asian Seas in a momentous celebration held on 10 July at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Philippines.

 

 

Incheon, RO Korea — NOWPAP Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC) held its 16th Focal Points Meeting and the 8th Competent National Authority Meeting on 17-21 June 2013 in Incheon.

 

 

Toyama, Japan — NOWPAP Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Centre (CEARAC) organized the Expert Meeting on Marine Biodiversity and Eutrophication on 5-6 August 2013 in Toyama. Experts from NOWPAP member states (PR China, RO Korea, Japan and Russia) together with representatives from the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) and Japan Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) participated in the meeting.