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Korea Herald
06-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Europe highlights plastic pollution at OOC Korea
Europe highlighted ways to tackle marine plastic pollution at the 10th edition of Our Ocean Conference held in Busan, South Korea. Under the theme 'Our Ocean, Our Action,' the conference brought together more than 2,600 ocean leaders from over 100 countries, resulting in 277 global pledges totaling $9.1 billion, according to Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Speaking at the conference, Charlina Vitcheva, director-general for maritime affairs and fisheries at the European Commission, underscored the European Union's commitment to combat plastic pollution. 'The EU will remain firmly committed to finding a global solution to address plastic pollution,' Vitcheva said. 'A global plastics treaty is needed more than ever. If business as usual continues, plastic production will triple by 2060,' said Vitcheva, echoing warnings by the OECD that increasing plastic use — particularly in short-lived products — could drive a sharp rise in pollution unless urgent action is taken on reducing demand, improving durability and enhancing recycling. The UN Environment Program estimates that 19 to 23 million metric tons of plastic waste currently enter aquatic ecosystems annually, threatening ecosystems, biodiversity and human livelihoods. South Korea has pledged 3.7 trillion won ($2.7 billion) to advance its Korea Blue Action Plan, part of a broader international effort to promote ocean sustainability. The plan outlines 76 national commitments to preserve marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development, said the ministry. This year's conference welcomed a delegation of 11 representatives from Germany, Greece, Ireland and other EU Member States to facilitate the maritime agenda and outreach activities for marine environmental protection. According to the EU delegation in Korea, Busan City forged meaningful and tangible cooperation with the EU, recognizing its role and identity as a global ocean city. Notably, a used fishing net recycling campaign was also held on April 28 as part of these efforts. Despite the mounting global crisis, there are signs of progress, Vitcheva said, highlighting that marine litter on EU coastlines has dropped by nearly one-third, attributing the success to concerted efforts by governments, civil society and citizens, driven by the EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The EU delegation in Korea also stressed growing partnership with Korea under the EU-Korea Green Partnership, launched in 2023. As part of the partnership, the EU delegation hosted a side event titled 'How the Circular Economy Will End Marine Plastic Pollution: A Joint Effort of Ambitious Policies and Innovative Businesses.' The seminar convened global policymakers, industry leaders and civil society representatives to explore innovative solutions rooted in circular economy principles aimed at ending marine plastic pollution. 'We have the Green Partnership with Korea since 2023, and its key elements embrace cooperation towards developing new circular economy models, which are strategic in tackling global marine plastic pollution issues,' said EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez. 'We need to align our approaches to create a supportive framework for transformative innovation,' she said. Meanwhile, Netherlands Ambassador to Korea Peter van der Vliet called for upstream solutions. 'It starts with smarter design, reuse systems and business models that reduce the burden on nature,' van der Vliet said, urging bold international policy to nurture innovation.
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Korea's Blue Action Plan: Key outcomes from the 10th Our Ocean Conference
IOL Korea's Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-Hyung at the Our Oceans Conference in Busan. Picture: Jolene Marriah-Maharaj Korea played host to the 10th Our Ocean Conference. The three-day conference held at Bexco, in the beachside city of Busan, saw global leaders converge. "Approximately 2,600 people were in attendance, including government officials, high-level international organizations, global NGOs, and companies from 100 countries. From South Africa, Zoe Prinsloo from Save the Fishies in Cape Town, was in attendance. The conference aimed to engage in dialogue for a sustainable ocean future, with the backdrop theme for this year being 'Our Ocean, Our Action." The conference aimed to foster dialogue and cooperation for a sustainable ocean future. As a country with an integrated maritime administration, Korea announced the Korea Blue Action Plan for Sustainable Oceans. The country pledged approximately 70 maritime-related action pledges based on past experiences and achievements to the international community. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) under the leadership of Minister Kang Do-Hyung described the conference as successful. The conference provided a platform to discuss opportunities to cooperate on global ocean challenges, and it resulted in the announcement of 277 commitments with a total value of USD 9.1 billion. Four core commitments were identified for the Korea Blue Action Plan. These are: - Assuming an active role in global discussions on marine protected areas (MPAs); -Participating in discourse on the transition to eco-friendly fuels for ocean freight and the establishment of a global green fuel supply chain. -Recognizing the significance of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency for sustainable fisheries and implementing the Charter in phases -Promoting a lifecycle management policy for fishing gear, a primary contributor to marine plastic pollution. At the opening ceremony, it was stated that over the past decade, 478 organizations had made 2,618 voluntary pledges, representing approximately USD 161 billion in financial commitments. Of these, 43%, or 1,130, have been implemented, and 38%, or 1,005, are ongoing. "This indicates that about 81% of the pledges have been or are being realized, showcasing the OOC's commitment to driving tangible change. "By pledge category, marine pollution had the highest number of items, with a total of 508. By dollar amount, USD 86.6 billion, 54% of the total, was committed to addressing climate change." Two exceptional cases of achievement were also presented. Renz Nathaniel Luyao, a young Filipino, shared his experience organizing the country's first youth seminar on the BBNJ Agreement and promoting 'Gensea,' an online marine education and community platform. The PEW Foundation shared its accomplishments in designating 2 million km² of MPAs in over 30 regions worldwide, and called on countries to join in the MPA designation. In the meantime, Kenya has been announced as the host of the 11th Our Ocean Conference. IOL News
Korea Herald
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Our Ocean Conference kicks off in S. Korea
A major global maritime conference kicked off in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday to provide a platform for international discussions on the sustainable future of the ocean. The 10th Our Ocean Conference set sail under the theme "Our Ocean, Our Action" for a two-day run at BEXCO, about 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Some 2,300 officials, including government delegates from 100 countries and the leaders of international institutions and nongovernmental organizations, have joined the event, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who spearheaded the establishment of the conference, and Peter Thomson, the United Nations secretary-general's special envoy for the ocean, were among the participants. "At this moment, many people are facing risks to their livelihoods and losing their homes due to the rise of sea levels, marine garbage and depletion of fishery resources," Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung said in an opening speech at the event. "To resolve these problems, we need a more concrete and innovative action plan," he added. This year's OOC plans to discuss seven topics, including marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, maritime security and digital oceans. As the host country, Seoul plans to propose the "Korea Blue Action Plan" backed by an investment of 3.7 trillion won ($2.57 billion), which comprises 76 pledges on efforts to promote the sustainability of the ocean sector. The pledges will include efforts to expand marine protected areas across the world, use of eco-friendly fuels for vessels and efforts to decrease marine plastic pollution. South Korea formally confirmed its ratification of a UN agreement on the sustainable use of marine biological diversity in March, becoming the first East Asian country to do so. On top of the ratification, the country plans to designate over 2,000 square kilometers of new marine protected areas this year alone and continue to expand these areas every year, Kang explained. Kang said South Korea will also continue its efforts to promote sustainable fisheries as the only Asian member of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Action Alliance. "South Korea recognizes the vital importance of the international cooperation in areas such as vessel information management, fishing activities and seafood supply chains, building upon our existing legal institutional frameworks," he added. On the sidelines of the event, the oceans ministry was set to hold a business summit of the shipping, shipbuilding and digital ocean industries. South Korea will also host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Oceans-related Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in Busan, ahead of the APEC summit set to take place in the country in the fall. (Yonhap)
