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Friday, March 29, 2024

Climate change and our seas

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Last week, while the Leaders’ Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation was meeting in Manila, another important regional meeting was going on in Danang City, Vietnam. This was the East Asian Seas Congress 2015, a triennial conference convened by the Partnerships in the Environmental Management of the Seas of East Asia, a Manila based international organization. This year’s co-hosts were the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, and the People’s Committee of Danang City. As always, the EAS Congress this year, with a theme of Global Targets, Local Benefits: Setting the Sustainable Development Agenda for the Seas of East Asia beyond 2015, was supported by the Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations Development Programme. 

Indeed, 2015 is a milestone year for the 11 member-countries of Pemsea as it serves as the target year for the commitments set by the East Asian Seas region in line with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy-Seas of East Asia which it adopted in 2003. Among others, the EAS Congress included the Ministerial Forum which adopted an updated SDS-SEA with new targets and schedule that is aligned and more responsive to the emerging needs/concerns of the region while staying committed to its vision of establishing a sustainable East Asian Seas. Recognizing the value of balancing social, environmental and economic aspects to achieve sustainable development, the Fifth Ministerial Forum served as a platform for the Ministers to discuss with key corporate groups and donors in support of the scaling up of SDS-SEA implementation.

As my colleague Ryan Whisnant and I wrote in an online article, the seas of East Asia are important for the region. It reaches out to an area of seven million km2 and spans 235,000 km of coastline. One can find in the East Asian seas over one third of all coral reefs and mangroves and the highest levels of biodiversity for coral reef fish, mollusks, mangroves and seagrass species. Its coastal areas are very densely populated, with nine of the world’s megacities (with population of more than 10 million), along with another dozen cities of more than five million residents found in the region. Economically, marine and coastal industries including fishing, ports and shipping and coastal tourism comprise 15 to 20 percent of the GDP in some East Asian countries.

Unfortunately, as Whisnant and I pointed out, our current use of coastal and marine resources is outstripping their ability to sustainably support our needs, and we’re seeing an overall decline in ocean health at alarming rates. Add to this threat global climate change and we have a potential for disaster. That is why the updated SDS-SEA has  proposed the adoption of a new strategy, mandating the East Asian countries to undertake steps to improve their capability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and other man-made and natural hazards, particularly on ocean and coastal systems and coastal communities.

The new ADAPT strategy are anchored on the following considerations and principles: 

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First: “Climate change adaptation is a key area of concern in the Seas of East Asia region due to its peculiar vulnerability to climate change, the impacts of which cut across various areas and issues.”

Second: “States shall prioritize climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management to ensure the achievement of sustainable development.” 

Third: “The integrated coastal management approach is an essential mechanism in the sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, as well as in preparing for, adapting, and responding to the impacts of climate change.”

Fourth: “Local governments should carry out inclusive coastal adaptation measures that take into account the general well-being of communities and, at the same time, allow adequate space for changes to their activities and lifestyle.”

Fifth: “States should institutionalize and strengthen disaster preparedness and response, as well as use post-disaster reconstruction and recovery to reduce future disaster risks.”

The new strategy also has several objectives:

First, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management will be incorporated into development policies, plans, and programs at national and local levels. These include strengthening national and local mechanisms to oversee and guide the implementation of programs focused on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction and management and preventing the creation of new risks, reduce existing risks, and strengthen resilience through various measures.

Second, to strengthen capacity of national and local governments, communities, and other stakeholders to adapt to the impacts of climate change and respond to natural and man-made hazards, which include: promoting regional cooperation among countries in education and training activities related to ICM and climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management; Strengthening national and local capacity building programs on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management; and, fostering networks and partnerships to plan, coordinate and implement climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management initiatives at different levels and across different sectors.

Finally, the updated SDS-SEA also aims at having risk-sensitive public and private investments supported by innovative sustainable financing mechanisms. This means financial and fiscal instruments, including for development projects, must be strengthened. Non-monetary incentives and mechanisms that motivate environment-friendly and sustainable investments affecting oceans, coastal resources and communities would also need to be developed.

Last week, the leaders of Apec came together in Manila, this week the Asean leaders with some of their global colleagues will meet in Kuala Lumpur before gathering again in Paris next week for climate change. It is my hope that one of the issues they will prioritize for the future is making sure we are doing right by our seas.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs 

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