EAS Congress 2021

Charting a New Decade of HOPE
(Healthy Ocean, People, and Economies)

The virtual Congress was hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia on 1-2 December 2021
with pre-Congress events from April to November.

The Post-Congress report is available in English and Chinese.

This contains the full account of the Congress, its key results, other notable accomplishments,
and overview of all conducted events, along with the proceedings, recordings, and presentation materials.

The year 2021 was a defining moment as we contain current and future pandemics and as we near the completion of the 2018-2022 Implementation Plan of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Armed with greater public awareness on the links between ocean health and human health, the EAS region was one and aligned with the global recognition to act on pressing socioeconomic, ecological, and climate change issues, and sustain the momentum of building meaningful and transformative solutions for a sustainable ocean-based economy.

For 2021, the Congress:

Shared the lessons learned and tracked the progress made in implementing the SDS-SEA at the regional, national, and local levels
Built on and recalibrated existing management interventions and set new opportunities for regional partnerships using innovative approaches, technologies, investments, and financing towards the sustainable development of the coastal and marine environment
Set up a clear roadmap on transformative blue solutions for the next decade in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and other relevant international and regional commitments

EAS Congress 2021 at a glance

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KEY EVENTS

7th EAS Ministerial Forum

The Congress culminated in the signing of the Preah Sihanouk Ministerial Declaration by senior government officials in PEMSEA’s country partners. Among other things, the Declaration endorsed the PEMSEA Roadmap to 2030, which aims to combine the values, principles, and key achievements that were carefully cultivated and replicated through years of transforming the EAS Partnership from a regional marine pollution project into a leading regional collaborative mechanism and the available opportunities that will enable the Partnership to maintain its relevance and fit for purpose in the region.

7th EAS Ministerial Forum

The Congress culminated in the signing of the Preah Sihanouk Ministerial Declaration by senior government officials in PEMSEA’s country partners. Among other things, the Declaration endorsed the PEMSEA Roadmap to 2030, which aims to combine the values, principles, and key achievements that were carefully cultivated and replicated through years of transforming the EAS Partnership from a regional marine pollution project into a leading regional collaborative mechanism and the available opportunities that will enable the Partnership to maintain its relevance and fit for purpose in the region.

Collabs

A total of 23 collabs or knowledge-sharing workshops, training, and seminars were conducted under the EAS Congress 2021. These covered 5 subthemes as follows: (1) securing food, income, and livelihood in line with a blue economy; (2) fostering social inclusion; (3) managing and restoring natural capital; (4) reducing marine pollution and solid waste; and (6) averting climate change and promoting social resilience.

Collabs

A total of 23 collabs or knowledge-sharing workshops, training, and seminars were conducted under the EAS Congress 2021. These covered 5 subthemes as follows: (1) securing food, income, and livelihood in line with a blue economy; (2) fostering social inclusion; (3) managing and restoring natural capital; (4) reducing marine pollution and solid waste; and (6) averting climate change and promoting social resilience.

Main Conference

The Main Conference featured a keynote address from the Minister of Environment of Cambodia; a plenary consisting of TEDx style talks on a number of crosscutting topics, followed by a moderated discussion; the presentation of the conclusions and recommendations from the plenary and the six-month long collabs of the Congress; and a cultural presentation from Cambodia.

Main Conference

The Main Conference featured a keynote address from the Minister of Environment of Cambodia; a plenary consisting of TEDx style talks on a number of crosscutting topics, followed by a moderated discussion; the presentation of the conclusions and recommendations from the plenary and the six-month long collabs of the Congress; and a cultural presentation from Cambodia.

2021 Forum of the PNLG

This convened PNLG members for a General Assembly focused on the review of the 2021 work summary and 2022 work plan of the PNLG Secretariat; adoption of the 2022-2030 PNLG Strategic Action Plan (SAP); election of new PNLG officers; induction of Busan, RO Korea as a new PNLG member; and announcement of Tangerang Regency, Indonesia as the local government host of the 2022 PNLG Annual Forum.

2021 Forum of the PNLG

This convened PNLG members for a General Assembly focused on the review of the 2021 work summary and 2022 work plan of the PNLG Secretariat; adoption of the 2022-2030 PNLG Strategic Action Plan (SAP); election of new PNLG officers; induction of Busan, RO Korea as a new PNLG member; and announcement of Tangerang Regency, Indonesia as the local government host of the 2022 PNLG Annual Forum.

Inauguration of PNLC

This featured the inauguration of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) as facilitated by the signing of the network’s Charter that formalized the PNLC and specified the ground rules on membership and identified joint activities and outputs amongst its members as well as options for sustainability and funding support.

Inauguration of PNLC

This featured the inauguration of the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) as facilitated by the signing of the network’s Charter that formalized the PNLC and specified the ground rules on membership and identified joint activities and outputs amongst its members as well as options for sustainability and funding support.

Results

Timetable of Events

Pre-Congress events

April 20-22 – Virtual Training Workshop on Claims and Compensation for Oil Pollution from Ships

June 8 – Ocean Roundtable Dialogue: Towards a Blue Economy Pathway for the East Asian Seas

July 28-29 – 13th Meeting of the EAS Partnership Council

October 26 – 27th Meeting of PEMSEA’s Executive Committee

November 25 – 7th EAS Senior Government Officials’ Meeting (SGOM)

November 25 – Session on Innovations in Greenhouse Gas Reduction in East and Southeast Asia’s Maritime Sector

June – November – Other Pre-Congress Events

December 1, 2021

Inauguration of PNLC

2021 PNLG Annual Forum

Main Conference

Partnership Night

December 2, 2021

Ministerial Forum

Press Conference

Contact

Hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia, and co-organized by the Ministry of Environment, Province of Preah Sihanouk, and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia.