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The Northwest Pacific Action Plan was adopted in 1994 by the four Member States, namely the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation as a part of the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. The implementation of NOWPAP is financed mainly by contributions from the Members.

The Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) is the high-level governing body of NOWPAP that provides policy guidance and makes decisions. Hosted annually, it is made up of senior representatives of the NOWPAP Members.  

In accordance with the IGM decisions, Regional Activity Centres (RACs) were established between 2000 and 2002 to start their activities afterwards. Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) was set up in Toyama, Japan and Busan, Korea, in November 2004.

 
Year Event
1994

1st Intergovernmental Meeting/IGM (Seoul, Korea):
 - adopted NOWPAP and three supporting Resolutions including five priority projects
1999

4th IGM (Beijing, China):
 - agreed to establish four Regional Activity Centres (RACs)
2000

6th IGM (Tokyo, Japan):
 - agreed in principle to establish a co-hosted NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) in Toyama, Japan, and Busan, Korea
2003

8th IGM (Hainan, China):
 - adopted the NOWPAP Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan (RCP)
2004

9th IGM (Busan, Korea):
 - inaugurated co-hosted NOWPAP RCU
 - enforced the NOWPAP RCP
2005

10th IGM (Toyama, Japan):
 - approved new directions of work for RACs
 - expanded geographical coverage of the NOWPAP RCP
 - approved the Marine Litter Activity (MALITA)
2006

11th IGM (Moscow, Russia):
 - adopted NOWPAP Policy of Data and Information Sharing
 - decided to evaluate NOWPAP RACs performance
2007

12th IGM (Xiamen, China):
 - approved the draft Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter
2008

13th IGM (Jeju, Korea):
 - adopted the NOWPAP Regional Oil and Hazardous and Noxious Substance Spill Contingency Plan
 - approved the new directions of work for NOWPAP Regional Activity Centres for 2008-2011
2010

15th IGM (Moscow, Russia):
- adopted the revised NOWPAP Resources Mobilization Strategy, NOWPAP Public Awareness Building Strategy and the Terms of Reference for NOWPAP RCU
2011 16th IGM (Beijing, China):
- adopted the revised Terms of Reference of NOWPAP RCU
- reviewed the NOWPAP Medium-Term Strategy (2012-2017)
- appreciated the Russian Government for increased contribution to the NOWPAP Trust Fund