Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP)
1. About NOWPAP
The Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) was adopted in 1994 by the People's Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation with the objective of preserving the environment in the Northwest Pacific region as a part of the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. Japan's Contribution
As a member of NOWPAP, Japan has been making great efforts. Consequently, substantial progress has been made. In November 2004, a Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) was jointly established in both Toyama and Busan, Korea, as the Secretariat for NOWPAP, which was previously undertaken by the UNEP Headquarters, provisionally.
As part of a new NOWPAP project - Marine Litter Activity (MALITA) - the Japanese Government sponsored the NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) campaign, in September 2006, in Sakata city, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. More than 100 people from China, Japan, Korea and Russia including representatives from governments, research and education institutions, NGOs and local citizens helped to organize the ICC. All member countries agreed to promote ICC activities in their country and to cooperate to improve public attention to marine litter in the region.
In June 2007, Japan assisted in establishing the first ICC in Rizhao, China. Government representatives, NGOs and local citizens participated in the ICC. The Government of Japan sent Japanese researchers, well versed in marine litter issues, to the ICC, affirming its strong leadership in the ICC.
RCU Toyama Office International Coastal Cleanup (September 2006)
Link
Back to Index