East Asia Environmental Treaties Project Mulls Next Steps
Participating States in a highly successful International Maritime Organization (IMO)-Norad environmental project have wrapped up the project in a final meeting, during which they pledged to continue to forge ahead with the implementation of key IMO marine environmental conventions.
During the meeting in Bali, Indonesia (9-11 November), the six east Asian beneficiary countries highlighted the major goals reached during the project, including the development of national legislation for the ratification of key treaties.
The countries expressed an interest in developing a follow-up project concept which would cover the entire ASEAN region and focus on the effective implementation of the IMO conventions that the countries have recently acceded to.
Following gap analysis and formation of national task forces, supported by two regional consultants and national government focal points, the four-year project has directly led to the countries concerned (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam) making substantial progress in terms of implementation and/or ratification of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL); the Anti Fouling Systems Convention; the London dumping of wastes convention and protocol; and the Ballast Water Management Convention.
The meeting was attended by the heads of the maritime agencies of the beneficiary countries. Norad was represented by Ms Gabriella Catharina Ylva Kossmann, Senior Policy Advisor and Project Focal Point of Norad. IMO was represented by Dr Jose Matheickal, and Ms Josephine Uranza along with the Project’s regional consultants.