13th Intergovernmental Meeting: Resolutions

Thirteenth Intergovernmental Meeting of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan

Jeju (Republic of Korea), 20-21 October 2008

Resolutions UNEP/NOWPAP IG. 13/9 Rev.1/Annex I

Resolution 1 

The Thirteenth Intergovernmental Meeting,

1. Approves the report of the Executive Director of UNEP on the progress of the implementation of NOWPAP activities and the status of the NOWPAP Trust Fund,

2. Approves also the progress reports of the four Regional Activity Centres of NOWPAP (CEARAC, DINRAC, MERRAC and POMRAC),

3. Approves new activities of NOWPAP RACs for 2008-2011 as presented in Table 1,

4. Encourages NOWPAP RCU to continue its efforts to develop partnerships with related organizations, programmes and projects in the region,

5. Encourages the member states to facilitate and promote the implementation of NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (RAP MALI) at the national and regional level,

6. Requests RCU and RACs to implement activities of the NOWPAP RAP MALI as scheduled, in close collaboration with relevant organizations, programmes and projects, including NGOs and private sector, and to seek possible external funding sources for RAP MALI implementation,

7. Decides to undertake the performance review of NOWPAP RCU using agreed methodology and criteria (UNEP/NOWPAP IG. 13.6), revised in accordance with member states comments.

Table 1. Activities of the NOWPAP RACs for 2008-2011 

CEARAC	DINRAC
2008-2009: • HAB Case Studies and Integrated Website • Educational Materials and Training Course on RS Data Analysis* • Procedures for Assessment of Eutrophication Status for the NOWPAP Region (including evaluation of land based sources of nutrients)* • Marine Litter (with other RACs) – implementation of RAP MALI  2010-2011: • New Implementation Structure for CEARAC Activities • Revised Integrated Reports on HAB and RS* • Coastal Environmental Assessments Methods for the NOWPAP Region (with other RACs)* • Marine litter (with other RACs) *these activities will be implemented in collaboration with regional partners	2008-2009: • Serving as a NOWPAP Clearing-House (using a “switchboard” to provide links to resources available in NOWPAP member countries, e.g. HAB, marine litter, nutrients, contaminants, biodiversity, etc.) • Assessment of the current situation with alien species and their potential damage in the NOWPAP region • Maintaining and updating NOWPAP Marine Litter database (with other RACs)  2010-2011: • Serving as a NOWPAP Knowledge Base on Marine and Coastal Environment (more data and information is expected to become available through close collaboration with other RACs and regional partners such as COBSEA, WESTPAC and YSLME)** • GIS-based visualization of marine environmental data • Marine Litter database (with other RACs) • Other activities deemed appropriate        **taking into account the needs of users: general public, scientists, policy-makers
MERRAC	POMRAC
2008-2009: • Oil and HNS Preparedness and Response (within the framework of NOWPAP RCP, including specific projects and training exercises) – in accordance with OPRC convention and OPRC-HNS protocol • Marine Litter (with other RACs) - implementation of RAP MALI 2010-2011: • Oil and HNS Preparedness and Response (within the framework of NOWPAP RCP, including specific projects and training exercises) • Marine Litter (with other RACs) Potential future activities* • Ballast Waters and Alien Invasive Species (within the context of IMO initiatives on ballast waters management) • Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL convention) • Liability and Compensation (CLC, Fund, Bunker and HNS conventions) *depending on necessity and urgency and budget availability for 2010-2011	2008-2009: • National Reports and Regional Overview on ICARM. • Follow-up on Atmosphere deposition and River and Direct Inputs of Contaminants as part of activities related to Land-based Sources of Pollution (with other RACs). • Reference Database for ICARM and Updated Reference Databases for AD and RDI • Marine litter (with other RACs) – implementation of RAP MALI 2010-2011: • Further activities on ICARM (with other RACs and regional partners): Preparation of Overview “Land-based Sources of Pollution in the NOWPAP Region” and start of preparation of Strategic Plan on ICARM for the NOWPAP Region. • Revised Regional Overviews on AD and RDI for preparation of the “State of Marine Environment Report – 2” (with other RACs). • Updated Reference Databases for ICARM, AD and RDI. • Marine litter (with other RACs)

Resolution 2

SUSTAINABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NOWPAP TRUST FUND

Recognizing the need to implement currently on-going NOWPAP activities and to initiate new activities,

Sharing the sense of urgency to address the gap between expenditure and contribution level that, if continues, will soon lead NOWPAP Trust Fund to the severe budgetary constraints and diminishing NOWPAP activities,

Also recognizing the necessity to increase the total amount of the member states contributions to the NOWPAP Trust Fund to the target amount of US$ 500,000 per year, as agreed at the 2nd Intergovernmental Meeting,

Taking note of resolutions of the 10th, 11th and 12th Intergovernmental Meetings on the necessity to increase the annual contributions of the member states as well as different positions of the member states with respect to practical possibilities to increase their contributions to the Trust Fund,

The Thirteenth Intergovernmental Meeting, 

1. Decides to endorse the following tentative scale of contributions of the member states to the NOWPAP Trust Fund for 2008 as presented in Table 2,

2. Urges the member states to make the utmost efforts in 2009-2010 to meet the target amount of annual contributions to the Trust Fund of US$ 500,000.

3. Urges also the member states to pay their unpaid pledges to the Trust Fund as soon as possible,

4. Decides to further discuss this issue at the next Intergovernmental Meeting.

Table 2. Scale of tentative contributions 

Country	Basic %	Additional %	Total (US$)
PRC	5	3	40,000
Japan	5	20	125,000
ROK	5	15	100,000
Russian Federation	5	5	50,000
Total	20	43	315,000

Resolution 3

NOWPAP REGIONAL OIL AND HAZARDOUS AND NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES SPILL CONTINGENCY PLAN

Being Members of the Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Co-operation Regarding Preparedness and Response to Oil Spills in the Marine Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (hereinafter referred to as the MoU) which was signed during 2004/5 at ministerial level of NOWPAP Members, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation,

Recognising the serious threat posed to the marine environment by Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) pollution incidents as well as oil pollution incidents involving ships, offshore units, ports and terminals, etc.,

Taking into account the entry into force of the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol),

Bearing in mind that, in the event of an oil or HNS pollution incident, prompt and effective action is essential in order to minimise the damage which may result from such an incident,

Taking note of the necessity and importance of the NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan specifying operational procedures related to co-operation in case of emergency,

Being aware of the need to promote regional co-operation and to enhance existing national and regional capabilities of preparedness and response to marine oil and HNS pollution incidents,

Based on the Resolution 6 of the 12th NOWPAP Intergovernmental Meeting which approved the draft text of the revised NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan,

The Thirteenth Intergovernmental Meeting,

1. Adopts the revised NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan.

2. Agrees that the revised NOWPAP Regional Oil and HNS Spill Contingency Plan comes into effect by adopting this resolution.