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MEDIA STATEMENT 27
JANUARY 2012 SOUTH AFRICA WELCOMES THE OUTCOMES OF THE 3RD INTERGOVERNMENTAL
REVIEW MEETING (IGR3) ON THE GLOBAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF
THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT FROM LAND – BASED ACTIVITIES HELD IN THE PHILIPPINES South Africa welcomes the outcomes of the 3rd
Intergovernmental Review on the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the
Protection of Marine Environment from Land – Based activities that was held
in Manila, the Philippines from 25 – 26 January 2012. The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of
the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) was adopted by 108
governments and the European Commission at a diplomatic conference in
Washington DC in 1995. The GPA provides a comprehensive yet flexible
framework to assist governments in their duty to preserve and protect the
marine environment from sewage, physical alterations and the destruction of
habitats, nutrients, sediments mobilisation, persistent organic pollutants,
oils, litter, heavy metals and radioactive substances. The GPA is reviewed every five years
by governments, international and regional organizations and NGOs under the
auspices of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Themed “Towards a Greener Coastal Economy” the IGR3
was preceded by a two day Global Conference on Land – Ocean Connections which
reviewed key and emerging marine and coastal management issues and policy
frameworks, to build consensus on improved coastal resources management for
the benefit of coastal communities. The conference
considered how coastal and marine ecosystems can contribute to a green
economy taking into account the need for lower carbon inputs, more efficient
use of resources, food and water security, adaptation to climate change and
the need for improved water quality. The
objectives of IGR3 was to
review progress made in the implementation of the GPA and identify future
options for increased implementation at global, regional and national levels,
to define the future programme of
work for the GPA Coordination Office for the period 2012-2016 and to prepare input from the governments to the Rio
+20 process concerning
the contribution of marine and coastal resources towards a green economy and
poverty eradication. South Africa’s participation was led by the
Department of Environmental Affairs. The Deputy Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi attended the high level segment
aimed at mobilising political will and renewing the commitment of governments towards
further implementation of the GPA. The major outcome of IGR3 was the unanimous
agreement by governments to increase efforts to tackle key land-based sources
affecting coastal water quality, namely wastewater, marine litter and
nutrients. “South Africa supports the notion that the three
priority pollutants be treated as ‘resources’ with a potential to support
‘green economic growth’. We need to find ways of putting excess nutrients, wastewater
and litter to good use,” said Mabudafhasi. Governments also adopted the Manila declaration
aimed at furthering the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for
the period 2012 – 2016, calling for the establishment of the global
partnerships on the priority pollutants. A total of 85 government representatives and the
European commission attended the third session of the Intergovernmental
Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for
the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities. For Media Enquiries Peter Mbelengwa Spokesperson for the
Deputy Minister Cell: 082 611 8197 ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON 27
JANUARY 2012 |