10th Intergovernmental Meeting: Resolutions

Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan

Toyama (Japan), 24-26 November 2005

Resolutions UNEP/NOWPAP IG. 10/10/Annex I

Resolution 1  

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting,

1. Approves the report of the Executive Director of UNEP on the progress in the implementation of NOWPAP activities,

2. Approves also the reports of the four Regional Activity Centres of NOWPAP (CEARAC, DINRAC, MERRAC and POMRAC) on the progress in the implementation of NOWPAP during the 2004/2005 biennium,

3. Approves further the work plan and budget for NOWPAP for the 2006/2007 biennium as presented in the following table and emphasizes the importance of carrying out the work plan in an efficient and cost-effective manner,

4. Agrees to maintain the present level of contributions to the Trust Fund for the 2006/2007 biennium,

5. Recognizes the pledges made for 2004-2005 and encourages the members of NOWPAP which have not yet paid their pledges, to do so as early as possible,

6. Requests the Directors of the RACs to provide the detailed work plan and associated budget scheme for the 2006/2007 biennium within the two or three month time period from now in order to evaluate performance and implementation capacity of each RAC,

7. Requests RCU to prepare a report on criteria and methods to evaluate NOWPAP RACs, taking into account the best practices on the evaluation used in the other Regional Seas Programmes, and further requests RCU to circulate the report on the evaluation criteria and methods to the member states 2-3 months before the next Intergovernmental Meeting for review RACs activities, 

8. Decides that this approved budget may be reviewed and amended at a later stage, if necessary, and the RAC work plan and related budget may be amended accordingly,

9. Requests UNEP and NOWPAP RCU to distribute the allocated budgets from the Trust Fund to the Regional Activity Centres according to UNEP procedures,

10. Requests NOWPAP RCU to facilitate the implementation of work by providing support and assistance to the RACs. 

Work plan and budget for NOWPAP activities for the 2006/2007 biennium as approved by the Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting, Toyama, Japan 24-26 November 2005  

Activity	Responsibility for Implementation	Proposed 2006-2007 Budget
DINRAC	DINRAC	150
CEARAC	CEARAC	150
MERRAC	MERRAC	150
POMRAC	POMRAC	150
Survey of National Legislation	RCU	10
Public Awareness	RCU	23
Coordination of RACs	RCU	20
MALITA	RCU	70
GEF PDF-B	RCU	100
Operation of RCU	RCU	110
Implementation of NOWPAP	RCU	110
Sub-Total		1,043
13% of the sub-total as Programme Support Cost		136
Total		1,179

Resolution 2

SUSTAINABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NOWPAP TRUST FUND

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting,

1. Taking note of the proposal on the increased contributions to the NOWPAP Trust Fund (UNEP/NOWPAP IG. 10/7) presented by the RCU and recommendation 3 of the NOWPAP Intersessional Workshop (UNEP/NOWPAP IS. 1/6),

2. Recognizing the fact that the current amount of contributions to the Trust Fund does not reach the target amount of US$ 500,000, as agreed upon at the 2nd Intergovernmental Meeting, and reaffirming the need to meet this target amount,

3. Recognizing also the need to initiate new NOWPAP projects and activities,

4. Decides to further discuss the above mentioned proposal during the next Intergovernmental Meeting, aiming at resolving the matter as soon as possible but no later than 2007, and taking note of the necessity to increase the total amount of the Trust Fund and contributions from all NOWPAP member states,

5. Encourages the member states of NOWPAP, the Executive Director of UNEP and the NOWPAP RCU to consistently make all possible efforts to secure funds from sources external to the Trust Fund, including civil society, private sector, local governments, international and regional organizations and financial institutions. 

Resolution 3

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR NOWPAP RACs and RCU

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting

1. Recognizing the need to improve the functions of the NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres (RACs) and RCU,

2. Taking into account recommendation 1 of the NOWPAP Intersessional Workshop (UNEP/NOWPAP IS 1/6) in which it is indicated that NOWPAP Coordinator has a general responsibility for activities of both RCU offices. 

3. Approves the proposal on new directions for NOWPAP RACs and RCU (UNEP/NOWPAP IG. 10/5/rev. 1).

4. Requests NOWPAP RCU to facilitate the implementation of NOWPAP activities by providing administrative and practical assistance to RACs. 

Resolution 4

MARINE LITTER ACTIVITY IN THE NOWPAP REGION

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting

1. Being aware of the urgent need to develop an integrated management of marine litter in the NOWPAP region,

2. Noting recommendation 2 on marine litter initiative in the NOWPAP region discussed and agreed at the NOWPAP Intersessional Workshop (UNEP/NOWPAP IS. 1/6),

3. Approves the revised project proposal on marine litter activity (UNEP/NOWPAP IG.10/6),

4. Requests the NOWPAP RCU to start this activity as soon as possible in close cooperation with the NOWPAP RACs, UNEP and other international organizations and programmes involved,

5. Requests the members of NOWPAP, RACs and marine litter focal points of each member to make utmost effort and fully support the implementation of this project as scheduled. 

Resolution 5

DEVELOPMENT OF A GEF PDF-B PROPOSAL

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting

1. Taking note that the GEF project concept on addressing land-based activities that affect the marine and costal environment of the Northwest Pacific region, developed according to resolution 4 of the Ninth Intergovernmental Meeting, has been submitted to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Pipeline on 23 November 2005, 

2. Requests the NOWPAP member states to facilitate official endorsement of the PDF-B proposal according to GEF rules.

Resolution 6

EXPANSION OF GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE OF THE NOWPAP REGIONAL OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN  

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting

1. Taking note of the proposal from Japan on the expansion of geographical coverage of the NOWPAP Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan (RCP),

2. Agrees that the expanded RCP geographical coverage will be from 33 to 55 degree North latitude and from 121 to 145 degree East longitude.

Resolution 7

REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

The Tenth Intergovernmental Meeting

1. Taking note of recommendation 4 of the Intersessional Workshop (UNEP/NOWPAP IS. 1/6),

2. Recognizing the need to update the regional overview of national environmental legislation, objectives, strategies and policies (NOWPAP/2 project), reflecting the current national status of environmental legislation,

3. Requests NOWPAP member states to facilitate updating of such overview as soon as possible,

4. Requests NOWPAP DINRAC to finalize, edit and publish the overview on national environmental legislation, strategies and policies using the resources allocated in the NOWPAP budget for the 2006/2007 biennium.