08/09/2026
๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ: ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐
๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
Busan, RO Korea - The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) Annual Forum 2026 opened in Busan, Republic of Korea, on 8 September, bringing together local government leaders, coastal practitioners, scientists, and partners from across the East Asian Seas region to strengthen collaboration toward resilient coastal communities and sustainable blue economies.
Held under the theme "Empowering Coastal Cities for a Blue Future," the three-day Forum provides a platform for local governments and their partners to exchange experiences, explore practical solutions, and strengthen collective action on coastal and ocean governance.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Ma. Lucille Nava, President of the PNLG and Governor of the Provincial Government of Guimaras in the Philippines, emphasized that coastal cities and municipalities are on the frontlines of climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss, and other pressures affecting coastal and marine ecosystems.
She underscored the importance of empowering local governments to translate national and international commitments into concrete action on the ground, highlighting the need to bridge science and policy, mobilize blue financing, and strengthen peer-to-peer learning among coastal communities.
"While national policies and international treaties set the vision, it is at the local level where vision turns into action," Dr. Nava said.
The Opening Ceremony also featured a video congratulatory message was also delivered by Mr. Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-Generalโs Special Envoy for the Ocean, followed by a keynote address from Mr. Seo Jeong Ho, Deputy Minister for Marine Policy of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea as well as congratulatory remarks from Ms. Aimee Gonzales, Executive Director of the PEMSEA Resource Facility, Mr. Oh Seok-Geun, Deputy Mayor for Future Innovation of Busan Metropolitan City, and Ms. Nam Myung-sook, Vice Chairperson of the Maritime City and Safety Committee of the Busan Metropolitan Council.
The Forum is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea, and convenes PNLG members and partners from seven countries across the East Asian Seas region: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Timor-Leste.
As coastal communities face increasingly interconnected environmental and development challenges, the 2026 PNLG Forum highlights the critical role of local leadership, science, partnerships, and innovation in shaping a resilient and sustainable blue future.
