CHINA’S SUSTAINABLE OCEAN AND COASTAL

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGYIN 21ST CENTURY

Haiqing LI

Director-General

Department of International Cooperation

State Oceanic Administration

Beijing, China

MAIN CONTENT OF PRESENTATION

I. IMPORTANCE OF THE OCEAN FOR SUSTIANBLE DEVELOPMENT

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUT CHINA’S MARINE AFFIARS

III. CHINA’S OCEAN AGENDA 21

IV. MAJOR OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

V. COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL DONORS

VI. FUTURE STRATEGIES

I. IMPORTANCE OF OCEAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (1)

• Ocean occupies 71% of the Earth’s Surface.• Cradle of life, and an important component of

life-supporting system of the globe • A great environmental regulator• A gateway for countries in their contacts with the

rest of the world . Easy and cheap way of transportation for trade

I. IMPORTANCE OF OCEAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (2)

• Ocean is a treasure house of resources, including minerals (sand, polymetallic nodules, cobalt crust, hydrothermal vents) energy (oil and gas, gas hydrate)and food ( fish etc.) for sustainable human development

• Ocean economy is and important component of world’s economy and increase rapidly(e.g. 1970, ocean GDP 13 billion USD, 1980, 280 billion USD, 1991 600-800 billion USD, now, 1500 billion, 15% of world’s total )

I. IMPORTANCE OF OCEAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT(3)

• The coastal zone is a suitable homeland for human beings. At present, 60% of the world’s population lives within 100km from coast

• The coastal zone, particularly coastal cities, are where economies, cultures and sciences of the contemporary world concentrate and interact with each other.

• The coastal zone now represents the locomotive in world’s economy

I. IMPORTANCE OF OCEAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (3)

• The coastal areas is where problems of economic development and environmental protection are most serious.

• The ocean is both the CO2 source and sink. It it where scientific uncertainties for climate change are apparent, e.g. El Nino, La Nina, etc.

• 2001, the United Nations declared that 21st century is the “Century of the Ocean” . Last frontier for human development

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUTCHINA’S MARINE AFFAIRS (1)

• A continental and maritime country• 18,000 km continental coastline and 14,000 km

island coastline, with 6500 coastal islands• Claimed jurisdictional area of 3 million KM2, with

380,000 KM2 under full sovereignty • Coastal area occupies only 14%,but its population

accounts for 40% and its GDP represents 60% of the country’s total

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUTCHINA’S MARINE AFFAIRS (2)

• For 20 years, annual growth rate of marine economy averages 20%, much higher than that of national economy as a whole

• In 2000, the national output value of major marine industries amounted to over 400 billion Chinese yuan

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUTCHINA’S MARINE AFFAIRS (3)

• Established an ocean management system, with the following features :– at the central government level, SOA (established in 196

4) is entrusted with the overall responsibility for China’s ocean management and other departments responsible for sectoral ocean management

– at the regional level, Branch of SOA, (North Seas Branch, East China Sea Branch and South China Sea Branch

– At provincial,municipal and county levels, Ocean ( and fisheries) departments, offices and divisions

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUTCHINA’S MARINE AFFAIRS (4)

• Developed a comprehensive ocean legal system, including :– Law on marine environmental protection (1983) with regulations on

dumping, ocean engineering, land-based, vessel source, and oil exploration

– Maritime Traffic Safety Law (1984)– Law on TS and Contiguous Zone (1992)– Mineral Resources Law (1996)– Fisheries Laws (1986)– Law on EEZ and Continental Shelf (1998) – Law on Sea Area Use Management (2000)

– Others

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUTCHINA’S MARINE AFFAIRS (5)

• Established ocean law enforcement system,with the following components:– At the central governmental level, SOA, Ministry of

Agriculture, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Public Security and General Customs have their own law enforcement forces at sea, and cooperate and coordinate with each other in implementation

– At the provincial, municipal and county levels, law enforcement forces at sea under guidance of the various departments of central government

– Law enforcement ships and airplanes

II. BASIC FACTS ABOUTCHINA’S MARINE AFFAIRS (6)

• Developed a technical support system, including:

– ocean survey and monitoring ( 1 satellite, airborne RS, 70 coastal stations, 100 research ships, buoys, etc.)

– marine scientific research capabilities (over 40 ocean related research institutes)

– ocean services ( sea status forecast, information and data, standards, criteria and metrology

III. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(1)

• INTERNATIONAL SETTING:– Before 1960’s

• sectoral ocean management of the basic sea uses, e.g. navigation, salt extraction, national defense

– 1972 Stockholm Environment Conference: • realized serious global environmental pollution probl

ems

• represented major milestone in environmental management and gave rise to marine environmental laws (e.g. LD 1972)

III. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(2)

– 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

• Entrusted 35% sea area under national jurisdiction

• Avoided the “tragedy of the commons”

• Provide for the legal basis for integrated ocean management

– 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

• Agenda 21, Chapter 17 provides for the ways and means for achieving sustainable ocean development through integrated ocean and coastal management

IV. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(1)

• 1992 “ China’s Agenda 21”– provides a guidance for drawing up China’s long - ter

m national plan for economic and social development

• 1996 “China Ocean Agenda 21”– expounds the basis, objectives, principles, and counte

r-measures for ensuring sustainable ocean development in China.The goal is to revitalize China as a powerful State through sustainable ocean development strategy

IV. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(2)

• Background: formulation of China Ocean Agenda 21 is based on the following recognition:– 21st century is a new era for better understandin

g, developing and protecting ocean – 200 EEZs are put under national jurisdiction, an

d “sea-bed” under management of international community

– high and new tech has promoted development of marine industry with increasing importance

IV. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(3)

– Realization of the impact of ocean in global environment, and therefore more international cooperation is needed

– More pressure on terrestrial resources supply, more attention turned to the ocean

– Problems of development and environment is getting increasingly obvious and serious, sea area use conflicts getting worsened

IV. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(4)

• Overall objectives:

a.construct well-functioning marine ecosystem

b.shape up scientific and rational ocean development system, and

c. promote sustainable development of marine economy

IV. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(5)

• Specific Objectives:

a.Ensure sustainable utilization of marine resources

b.Before 2000, annual growth rate of marine economy not less than 15%; after 2000, marine economy occupies 5-10% of China’s GDP

c.Optimize structure of marine industry, and expand its value

d.provide a sound basis of eco-environment for marine sustainable development

V. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(6)

• Guiding Principles:

a.Marine sustainable utilization and coordinated development of marine affairs are the guiding ideology in 21st century

b.Development of marine economy as core task

c.3.Develop the marine economy at a moderately high speed than national economic development rate

d.Integrated development on both land and sea

e.Develop the ocean by relying on S&T

f.Ocean development in a coordinated way

III. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(7)

• Counter Measures :a.Formulate basic strategies with a view to ensuring

sustainable development of the ocean

b.Alleviate pressure on population, resources and environment through well- planned and well-oriented development activities

c. Promote sustainable development of coastal islands as part of the national economy , with special attention to conserving island ecological balance and biological diversity

III. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(8)

d.Conserve marine living resources for sustainable utilization (e.g. establishment MPAs, improve fishing technologies and control fish production increase at a moderate rate

e.Promote marine sustainable development by means of scientific and technological progress (e.g. exploit new ocean minerals, energy, pharmaceutical resources)

III. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(9)

f.Establish integrated ocean management system, including in particular the establishment of an integrated decision-making mechanism, draw up ocean development and conservation plans, and improve laws and regulations

g.Protect marine environment through controlling land-based pollution; establishing and apply gross pollution load monitoring and control system at key areas and formulating contingency plans, improving capacities in monitoring and law enforcement

III. CHINA OCEAN AGENDA 21(10)

h.Improve ocean observation,forecasting, pre-warning and disaster mitigation

i.Strengthen international cooperation with emphasis on northeast and southeast Asian regions

j.Promote public awareness and participation in ocean affairs

IV. MAJOR OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACTIONS IN CHINA(1)

• OCEAN LEGISLATION:– In 1999, revised Marine Environmental Protection

Law, with emphasis on ecological conservation and construction

– In mid 2000, Fisheries Law amended– In Oct. 2000, the Law Concerning the Sea Area

Use Management approved, with licensing and charging sea area use as its core

IV. MAJOR INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

IN CHINA(2)

• OCEAN PLANNING:– Between 1989 and 1995, completed 1st national

marine functional zoning scheme on a scale of 1:200,000

– From 1997, began to revise and improve marine national marine functional zone scheme on the scale of 1:50,000 for normal areas and 1:10,000 for special areas , laid basis for sea use management

IV. MJAOR INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

IN CHINA(3)

– Between 1991 and 1993, drafted national marine development plans, including plans for coastal provinces and municipalities

– In 2001, developed national plan for eco-environment construction and conservation

– For the moment, national marine economic development plan is being drafted by SOA together with National Planning Commission

IV. MAJOR INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAEMENTACTIONS

IN CHINA(4)

• MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:

– Strengthened sea area use management

– In marine environmental monitoring and management, strengthened water quality control in nearshore areas, prevention and control of red tides, coastal construction management with emphasis on EIA)

– Enhanced new MPA construction and management, based on 73 already established ones

IV. MAJOR INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGMENT ACTIONS IN

CHINA(5)– Coastal island management put on agenda – Integrated sea area management, including: (i)

carry out Bohai Blue Sea Action Plan with governmental committed investment of 55.5 billion Yuan, and (ii) prepare for capacity building for Integrated Bohai Sea Management Plan with expected investment of several billion Yuan

– intensified integrated law enforcement at sea

V. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH DONORS (1)

• ICAM– 1993 - 1999, GEF/UNDP/IMO ICM demonstrat

ion project in Xiamen, China - a model for developing country in balancing economic development with environmental protection. Xiamen experience include: (i) legislation as the basis; (ii) concentrated coordination; (iii) integrated law enforcement; (iv) scientific back-up; (v) focus on sea area use management

V. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH DONORS (2)

– 1999 - ADB Project on Bohai Coastal Resources Conservation and Environmental Management

– 1999-2001, based on the experience of Xiamen, UNDP ICM demonstration project in southern part of China (Guandong, Hainan and Guanxi )

V. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH DONORS (3)

• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:– GEF/UNDP/IMO PEMSEA Pilot Project on Bohai

Sea Environmental Management (1999-2004). Main Achievements: (i) MOA signed and implemented ; (ii)Bohai Environmental Forum created; (iii) Bohai Delcaration declared; (iv) Leadership in provinces established; (v) leverage large scale governmental investment; (vi)focus on Bohai law formulation; (vii) transboundary coordination mechanism

V. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH DONORS (4)

– GEF/UNDP funded project on “Reducing Environmental Stress in the Yellow Sea (YSLME,2002-2007?)

– GEF/UNDP funded project on Biological Management in the Coastal Areas of China South Sea (PDF-B completed) (2003 - 2008)

V. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH DONORS (5)

– GEF/UNDP Integrated Water Resources Management Around Bohai Sea (Haihe River Estuary (PDF-B, 9 months from Aug.2002)

– Biodiversity Protection and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in China (2000 - 2005)

– Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (2002-2007)

VI. FUTURE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE OCEAN AND

COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (1)

• Based on “UNCLOS” and “China Ocean Agenda 21”, China will adopt the following strategies:a.Improve marine legal systems, especially on na

tional basic laws pertaining to UNCLOS, and especially related to the implementation of laws on territorial sea, continguous zone, EEZ and CS

VI. FUTURE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE OCEAN AND

COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (2)

b.Improve economic development planning

c.Perfect ocean and coastal management systems, including administrative infrastructure and law enforcement

c. Intensify marine eco-environmental conservation and carry out high-intensity marine monitoring, surveillance, supervision and management

VI. FUTURE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE OCEAN AND

COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (3)

d.Strengthen integrated ocean and coastal development planning and management, as well as the capacity building for sustainable ocean development and use

e.Enhance marine service capabilities to promote the development of marine economy and coastal region

VI. FUTURE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE OCEAN AND

COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (3)

f.Develop marine science and technology, and apply scientific results to ocean management, economic development and national security

g.Foster publicity and education, and enhance public awareness of the importance of the oceans and ocean management

VI. FUTURE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE OCEAN AND

COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (4)

h. Promote international cooperation on a global, regional and national levels, with special emphasis on : promoting regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms in the East Asian Seas, and formulate regional sustainable development strategy for the East Asian Seas. STRENGTHENED COOPERATION WITH GEF , UNDP AND OTHER DONORS

THANK YOU!

MERCI BEAUCOUP!