1. Draft Mid-term Strategy 2018-2023

2. Outline Introduction and background Elements of the strategy
Core theme: Support integrated coastal and river basin planning and management
Core theme: Assess status of the marine and coastal environment
Core theme: Prevent and reduce land- and sea-based pollution
Core theme: Conserve marine and coastal biodiversity
Core theme: Promote sustainable consumption and production
Enhance effectiveness of NOWPAP
Monitoring and Evaluation of NOWPAP MTS
Proposed Steps to Finalize MTS

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.
During 20th IGM discussions of MTS, countries, inter alia, raised the following concerns:
Problems in translating MTS priorities into project proposals;
Setting up a working group on future MTS;
Terminal review of the MTS ;
Importance consulting with member states and RACs – not clear yet if such consultations were conducted and if they were comprehensive

5. How much was actually achieved?
NOWPAP Regional Oil and NHS (Hazardous and Noxious Substances) Spill Contingency Plan adopted in 2005;
• NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter agreed by member states in 2008;
• Regular Regional Joint Exercises on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response since 2005;
• Establishment of NOWPAP database and regional information management system;
• A range of scientific and policy-relevant regional reports on the state of the marine and coastal environment and emerging issues;
• Capacities of technical experts and policy specialists were strengthened and increased public awareness.

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. Core theme: Support integrated coastal and river basin planning and management (ICARM)
Strategic Objectives
The sustainable development of coastal zones is facilitated by developing and applying ecosystem-based management tools, policies and practices;
Planning and decision-making processes at the national, regional and local levels recognize the inter-connectedness between the land and the sea;
Planning mechanisms, including integrated water resources management, integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning contribute to reduced pressures on the marine and coastal environment;
To reduce anthropogenic pressure on coastal and marine ecosystems in order to prevent or reduce their degradation and to maintain their resilience;
To promote governance mechanisms ensuring collaboration between public and private initiatives.
OUTCOMES:
Strengthened regional implementation of the NOWPAP objectives and existing relevant strategies and action plans;
Development of new ICZM action plans, measures, common standards and criteria, guidelines;
Strengthened national implementation;
Monitoring and assessment at the regional and national levels enhanced;
Enhanced capacity at regional, sub- regional and national levels including technical assistance and capacity building.

13. Core theme: Assess status of the marine and coastal environment
Strategic Objectives
1. Periodic assessments on the state of the NOWPAP marine and coastal environment provide policy- and decision-relevant advice.
2. NOWPAP scientific assessments consider the impacts of prospective development scenarios and integrate resilience aspects.
3. New and emerging environmental issues, including climate change impacts are identified and tackled, as appropriate.
4. To strengthen knowledge management capacity of public and private sector agents, civil society and academia to inform marine and coastal conservation action.
Strategic Outcomes
• Strengthened regional cooperation on environmental assessments;
• Harmonized environmental quality standards and monitoring methods; developed criteria and guidelines;
• Strengthened national implementation;
• Monitoring and assessment at the regional and national levels enhanced;
• Enhanced capacity at regional, sub- regional and national levels including technical assistance and capacity building.

14. Core theme: Prevent and reduce land- and sea-based pollution
Strategic Objectives
Contaminants cause no significant impact on coastal and marine ecosystems and human health;
Eutrophication adverse effects (such as loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, harmful algal blooms, and oxygen deficiency in bottom waters) are absent;
Marine litter does not adversely affect coastal and marine environments;
New and emerging land- and sea-based pollution related problems are identified and tackled, where appropriate.
Strategic Outcomes
• Strengthened regional implementation of the NOWPAP objectives and existing relevant regional strategies and action plans
• Development or update of new and existing action plans, programmes and measures, standards, criteria and guidelines (nutrients and PTS as a focus?)
• Strengthening and implementation of marine pollution prevention and control legislation and policies at the national level
• Marine pollution monitoring and assessment at the regional and national levels enhanced;
• Enhanced capacity at regional, sub- regional and national levels
• Enhanced cooperation at the regional, sub-regional and national levels to prevent and control pollution from marine litter;
• Identifying and proposing course of action for emerging pollutants with potential impacts on human and ecosystem health.

15. Core theme: Conserve marine and coastal biodiversity
Strategic Objectives
Biological and habitat diversity are not changed significantly due to anthropogenic pressures;
Alien species are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems;
Changes to components of marine food webs caused by resource extraction or human induced environmental changes do not have long-term effects on food web dynamics and viability;
New and emerging marine and coastal biodiversity related problems are identified and tackled, as appropriate.
Strategic Outcomes
Strengthened regional implementation of the NOWPAP objectives and existing relevant regional strategies and action plans addressing coastal and marine biodiversity;
Development of the new NOWPAP Regional Action Plan on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity and update of new and existing action plans, programmes and measures, standards, criteria and guidelines;
• Strengthening national implementation of marine and coastal biodiversity conservation policies, strategies, plans and legislation, including through mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral strategies, policies and plans;
Monitoring, inventory and assessment of marine and coastal biodiversity with a focus on endangered and threatened species, including migratory species, invasive species and critical habitats;
Enhanced capacity building at regional, sub- regional and national levels to strengthen policy implementation and compliance with member obligations to major MEAs and national legislation;
Enhanced cooperation at the regional, sub-regional and national levels to protect and conserve marine and coastal biodiversity;
Identifying and proposing course of action for emerging marine biodiversity issues.

16. Core theme: Promote sustainable consumption and production
Strategic Objectives
To promote sustainable consumption and production agenda in the NOWPAP region to secure long-term sustainable management of natural resources and prosperity of well-being of societies;
To reduce the pressure of human activities in coastal and marine areas through the implementation of SCP tools;
To develop and support the effective implementation of the NOWPAP SCP Action Plan;
To strengthen technical capacities of businesses, entrepreneurs, and civil society to implement SCP;
To promote SCP in key economic sectors and lifestyles which are upstream drivers of chemicals and marine litter.
Strategic Outcomes
• Development of regional rapid assessment on SCP and new regional SCP Action Plan;
• Develop common standards, criteria and guidelines and monitoring and assessment framework underpinning implementation of an Action Plan;
• Enhanced capacity at regional, sub- regional and national levels to support SCP practices;
• Enhanced cooperation at the regional, sub-regional and national levels to prevent and control pollution.

17. Core theme: Enhance effectiveness of NOWPAP
Strategic Objectives
To strengthen the regional and national governance mechanisms addressing marine and coastal environment;
To strengthen national and sub-national capacity for the implementation of NOWPAP objectives and action plans;
To strengthen synergies and complementarities among international, regional and national institutions in the NOWPAP region;
To mobilize additional financial and human resources;
To deliver knowledge-based assessments of the North Pacific environment and scenario development for informed decision-making and stakeholder work;
To enhance NOWPAP visibility, and its role and outreach about achievements.
Strategic Outcomes
• Member states supported in the implementation of the NOWPAP;
• Strengthened participation, engagement, synergies and complementarities between NOWPAP and global, regional, and national institutions;
• NOWPAP knowledge and NOWPAP information base are easily accessible for policy- and decision-makers;
• Increased financial and human resources for NOWPAP activities;
• Public awareness and outreach are enhanced and NOWPAP visibility in the region and globally increased.

18. 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
Why NOWPAP institutional structure has to be reviewed:
More joint work between RACs and more work that is currently beyond capacity of RACs (external expertise is required);
Closer alignment of NOWPAP delivery with SDGs would require closer cross-sectoral coordination at the national and regional levels;
Proposed MTS demands stronger engagement of private sector and civil society in NOWPAP activities;
Complexity of challenges would require stronger national ownership and more frequent than now interaction with member states;
Initiation of new projects/possibly programs and their implementation demands stronger coordination, awareness and fund raising role for RCU. Also expansion of NOWPAP partnership would require more coordination efforts.
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

19. Monitoring and Evaluation of NOWPAP MTS 2018-2023
68. Under the leadership of the NOWPAP member states (at IGMs), NOWPAP RCU and the four RACs are responsible for implementing the MTS and ensure coordination of its monitoring and evaluation processes.
69. Monitoring will take place in a combined way for MTS and PoW, with the initiative and under the coordination of the NOWPAP RCU and NOWPAP Focal Points.
70. In order to measure MTS performance, NOWPAP RCU in consultation with RACs will develop a performance framework to be agreed at the time of MTS adoption by 22nd IGM.
71.Evaluation of progress of the biennial PoW will act as an early warning indicator for undertaking a corrective action necessary to achieve the MTS Outputs.
MTS performance indicators aligned with SDG indicators

20. Steps to Complete MTS 2018-2023 for Adoption by 22nd IGM
MTS Strategic Group will consist of nominated by member states representatives (4, one for each country), RAC Directors (4) and RCU Senior Coordinator (1). UNEP RSP representative will serve as an observer. By mutual agreement, Group could invite partner agencies to join their meetings on an ad-hoc basis. Focal Points for RACs from member states will be involved regularly throughout the process of MTS preparation facilitated by RAC Secretariats.