Protecting Asia-Pacific

What is the issue?

• For generations, the Asia-Pacific region has thrived on our seas, which provide food, livelihoods and a sense of identity.
• Escalating strains on the marine environment are threatening to drown progress and our way of life.

What are causes of concern?

• In less than a century, climate change and unsustainable resource management have degraded ecosystems and diminished biodiversity.
• Levels of overfishing have exponentially increased, leaving fish stocks and food systems vulnerable.
• Marine plastic pollution coursing through the region’s rivers has contributed to most of the debris flooding the ocean.
• While the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily reduced pollution, this should not be a moment of reprieve.
• Rather, recovery efforts need to build a new reality, embedded in sustainability.

Asia-Pacific Region in World map

Is there enough data available?

• The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has released its theme study for this year.
• The theme study ‘Changing Sails: Accelerating Regional Actions for Sustainable Oceans in Asia and the Pacific’, talks about lack of data.
• Data are available for only two out of ten targets for the Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Life Below Water’.
• Due to limitations in methodology and national statistical systems, information gaps have persisted at uneven levels across countries.

What is the level of plastic pollution?

• Asia and the Pacific produces nearly half of global plastic by volume, of which it consumes 38%.
• Plastics represent a double burden for the ocean:
  1. Their production generates CO2 absorbed by the ocean, and
  2. As a final product enters the ocean as pollution.
• Beating this challenge will hinge upon effective national policies and re-thinking production cycles.

What is the impact of unsustainable fishing?

• Environmental decline is also affecting fish stocks.
• Asia-Pacific region’s position as the world’s largest producer of fish has come at the cost of over-exploitation.
• The percentage of stocks fished at unsustainable levels has increased threefold from 10% in 1974 to 33% in 2015.
• Generating complete data on fish stocks, fighting illicit fishing activity and conserving marine areas must remain a priority.

Is there a gap in maritime connectivity?

• The most connected shipping economies are in Asia.
• But, the small island developing States of the Pacific experience much lower levels of connectivity.
• This connectivity gap relatively isolates them from the global economy.
• Closing the maritime connectivity gap must be placed at the centre of regional transport cooperation efforts.
• There must be work with the shipping community to navigate toward green shipping.
• Enforcing sustainable shipping policies is essential.

Why regional data should be collected?

• The magnitude of our ocean and its challenges represent how extensive and collaborative our solutions must be.
• Trans-boundary ocean management and linking ocean data call for close cooperation among countries in the region.
• Harnessing ocean statistics through strong national statistical systems will serve as a guide for the countries to monitor trends, devise timely responses and clear blind spots.
• Through Ocean Accounts Partnership, ESCAP is working with countries to harmonise ocean data and provide a space for regular dialogue.

What could be done?

• The international agreements and standards must be translated into national action to get tangible results.
• ESCAP is working with member states to implement International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements.
• Keeping the ocean plastic-free will depend on policies that promote a circular economy approach.
• This minimises resource use and will require economic incentives and disincentives.

Source: The Hindu

Quick Facts

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

• ESCAP is the UN’s regional hub promoting cooperation among countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, with priority accorded to,
  1. Implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
  2. Achievement of the SDGs.
• It is the largest regional intergovernmental platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members.
• India is a member of ESCAP since 1947.
• ESCAP’s products and services support its member States in building national capacities in:
  1. Strengthening and implementing equitable and sustainable economic and social development policies and programmes;
  2. Preparing for and participating in multilateral trade, transport, ICT, energy and environmental partnerships and agreements;
  3. Building effective partnerships with civil society entities and the private sector;
  4. Reviewing progress in achieving the SDGs and targets adopted at global and regional conferences.