BANGKOK, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024 – The Philippines joined its fellow member States of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), observers and stakeholders in discussing the Initiative for Regional Cooperation on Ocean-based Climate Action. The initiative focuses on the themes of (1) Protecting and enhancing blue carbon ecosystems; (2) Decarbonizing shipping and maritime connectivity; (3) Accelerating the deployment of ocean-based renewable energy; and (4) Enhancing ocean-climate resilience.

Underscoring its continuing compliance with the obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to protect and preserve the marine environment, and its commitment to conserve and sustainably use the ocean (SDG 14), the Philippines shared some of its existing programs on ocean-based climate action. These included on protecting and enhancing blue carbon ecosystems, and on enhancing ocean-climate resilience, specifically:

• “Rehabilitation and Streambank Stabilization of Catubig River Through Vegetation Engineering Systems Using Bamboo, Nipa, Annona glabra (pond apple), and Mangrove”;

• “Mangrove-Sediment-Microorganism Carbon Dynamics to Enhance CO2 Sequestration Capacity of Mangrove Forests”;

• “Real-time Carbon Flux Monitoring in Mangrove, Natural and Plantation Forests in Mindanao Philippines: An Eddy Covariance Approach”;  

• “Supporting our seas through automated and integrated networks (SUSTAIN): strengthening ocean observation and management of risks to coastal ecosystems”.

The ESCAP secretariat noted these programs, and welcomed the Philippines’ statement. The ESCAP secretariat also advised that further dialogues in 2025 would be a good opportunity for countries in the region to continue discussions.

The Philippines also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to carefully study the proposed regional initiative, and explore the possibilities and challenges for practical cooperation that it may bring towards a healthy and thriving marine environment in line with the UNCLOS.

The event was co-hosted by Indonesia, Fiji, and the Maldives, with ESCAP, in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  It provided a platform to identify challenges and options for regional action for ocean-based climate action, following the adoption of ESCAP resolutions particularly on “Regional cooperation to accelerate climate action on oceans in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development”.  

The Philippines is one of the ten founding Members of ESCAP, which has been a forum for regional collaboration on economic development and post-war reconstruction since 1947. Today, ESCAP has 53 Member States and 9 associate members. Together, they work on regional solutions to contemporary socio-economic issues such as the environment and development, social development, and poverty reduction. END