1. Agenda item 7: Draft NOWPAP
Mid-term Strategy

2. Outline 1. Opening of the meeting
2. Discussion on Achievements and Challenges of NOWPAP Regional Activity Centre (RAC)
3. Role of RACs in the NOWPAP: Towards the next NOWPAP Mid-term Strategy
4. Discussion on the future development of NOWPAP RAC network
5. Closure of the meeting

3. Changing global landscape
“Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and adopted a set of 17 universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets in 2015
Paris agreement on climate change entered into force on 4 November 2016
Resolution 2/10 on oceans and seas of the Second United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme in 2016
Resolution 72/9 adopted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on 24 May 2016 on South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation on oceans and marine resources
 Regional Seas Strategic Directions ( ) adopted in 2015
CBD COP-17 in Cancun, Mexico
 High-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 in New York in June 2017

4. Background
Five challenges to consider when developing MTS (UNEP/NOWPAP IG. 20/7/4):
Lack of clear vision and direction for all NOWPAP activities;
Lack of connectivity among RACs expertise;
Lack of effective fund allocation strategy among RACs and the overall lack of effort to mobilize external resources;
Lack of region-specific technical priorities in the MTS;
Lack of performance connectivity between NOWPAP Programme of Work (PoW) and MTS priorities.

5. SOMER–2 identified eight major regional environmental issues corresponding closely to results of global assessments:
• Fragmentation, degradation and loss of habitats and landscapes
• Chemical contamination of waters, sediments and biota resulting from pollution from sea- and land-based sources
• Eutrophication caused by input of nutrients linked to the increased incidence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia;
• The impacts of marine litter;
• The number and occurrence of invasive non-indigenous species have increased in recent years;
• Overfishing and destructive fishing practices;
• Changes in freshwater fluxes and sediment discharge to the sea;
• Global climate change impacts

7. Solutions to marine plastic litter go much beyond improving waste management infrastructure and include support for structural economic changes that would reduce plastics consumption, increase production of environmentally friendlier materials, increase recycling and reuse, promote investments in alternative conversion technologies and new materials and products, and support an enabling environment including capacity building, new regulations and standards
GEF-STAP (2011). Marine Debris as a Global Environmental Problem:
Introducing a solutions based framework focused on plastic

8. Elements of the strategy (strategic direction)
The Vision of the MTS is derived from the overall NOWPAP goal (1994):
The wise use, development and management of the coastal and marine environment in the NOWPAP region, contributing to sustainable development for the long-term benefit of present and future generations

9. Overarching Theme: Enhancing Ecosystem Resilience
The wise use, development and management of the coastal and marine environment in the NOWPAP region, contributing to sustainable development for the long-term benefit of present and future generations
Overarching Theme: Enhancing Ecosystem Resilience
Prevent and reduce
land- and sea-based pollution
Support integrated coastal and river basin planning and management
Assess status of the marine and coastal environment
Promote Sustainable Consumption and Production
Enhance effectiveness of NOWPAP
Achieving Ecological Quality Objectives and Contributing to Sustainable Development
Conserve marine and coastal
biodiversity
MTS core themes

10. All core themes of the MTS include the same set of issues (adjusted for each individual theme
To strengthen regional and national and sub-national capacity for the implementation of NOWPAP objectives and action plans;
To build synergies and complementarities among international, regional and national institutions in the NOWPAP region;
To deliver knowledge-based assessments on emerging issues in the Northwest Pacific environment;
To mobilize additional financial and human resources for NOWPAP activities, with a special focus on private sector and civil society engagement;
To increase NOWPAP visibility and participation in global and regional dialogues on environmental protection and sustainable development.

11. Steps to Complete MTS 2018-2023 for Adoption by 22nd IGM

12. Discussion on Achievements and Challenges of RACs
Agenda item 2:
Discussion on Achievements and Challenges of RACs
Describe your major achievements? How your current mandate remains relevant today and aligned with the adopted SDG?
What is your comparative advantage vis-a-vis other knowledge centers in the NOWPAP region? Do you see an overlap between your work and the work of other NOWPAP RACs? What are your major global, regional, national and sub-national partners? What are other partners you would like to work with in the future?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current mechanism for executing the RACs Programmes of Work? What are your major administrative, institutional and financial constrains?
Could you describe your vision for your respective RAC? Both, in terms of technical coverage but also modus operandi.

13. Role of RACs in the NOWPAP: Towards the next MTS 2018-2023
Agenda Item 3:
Role of RACs in the NOWPAP: Towards the next MTS
This agenda item will be opened by the RCU presentation highlighting challenges and opportunities for the development of the next NOWPAP Mid-term Strategy. The four RAC Directors will be invited to have a discussion on the Action Plan to finalize the Mid-Term Strategy in a participatory and inclusive way.

14. Discussion on the future development of RAC network
Agenda Item 4:
Discussion on the future development of RAC network
The four RACs Directors are requested to present one-two slides that would describe several specific actionable items on how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the NOWPAP RACs network. The floor will be open for discussion after the Directors’ presentations.

15. Some suggestions on NOWPAP operational structure
Inter-Ministerial Meeting (IMM)
Every four years
Partners
Partners
Intergovernmental or NOWPAP Senior Officials Meeting (IGM)
Every year
Ad-hoc Expert Group
NOWPAP Senior Officials Group
Ad-hoc Expert Group
Partners
Ad-hoc Task Force
NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit in Toyama and Busan
Ad-hoc Task Force
Partners
Special Monitoring and Coastal Environmental Assessment Regional Activity Center (CEARAC)
Toyama, Japan
Data and Information Network Regional Activity Centre (DINRAC)
Beijing, P.R. China
Marine Environmental Emergencies, Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Center (MERRAC)
Daejeong, R. Korea
Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Center (POMRAC)
Vladivostok, Russian Federation