Alliance of coastal cities
Translated by Merryliance of coast

由联合国环境规划署、国家环境保护总局和厦门市人民政府为联合主办单位, 地方环境行动国际理事会(ICLEI)、东亚海域环境管理区域项目组织(PEMSEA)为协办单位, 中欧科技促进中心(SETPC)、荷兰瓦赫宁恩大学、厦门大学为技术支持单位的 2005'国际海洋城市论坛于10月8日至9日在厦门召开.

此次论坛邀请了国际上约20个沿海城市市长以及国内约15个海洋城市市长出席. 希望将论坛办成每年一届的年度盛会, 每年确定一个主题. 2005年主题定为"加强陆源污染物防治, 保护和改善海洋环境", 该主题与联合国环境规划署组织的全球防治陆源污染行动计划2006年政府会议相吻合.

论坛组织发达国家、发展中国家和中国国内海洋城市代表发言, 介绍海洋环保成就和经验; 邀请国际知名学者和知名环保企业做专题报告, 介绍海洋环保技术的发展现状和趋势; 并于10月8日晚共同签署了《厦门宣言》.



The 2005 International Forum for Coastal Cities, jointly organized by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), the State Environment Protection Administration (SEPA) and Xiamen Municipal People's Government, assisted by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), and technically supported by the South Europe Technology Promotion Center (SETPC) of Wageningen University, The Netherlands and Xiamen University, takes place in Xiamen on October 8-9.

Around 20 mayors from foreign coastal cities and around 15 from domestic coastal cities are to attend the forum. Some hope that the forum will become an annual event with a different theme each year. The theme for 2005 is "intensifying the prevention and treatment of land-based pollutants and protecting and improving the marine environment," which is in line with the agenda of the 2006 Governmental Conference of the Global Initiatives for the Prevention and Treatment of Land-based Pollutants organized by the UN Environment Program.

The forum has invited representatives from coastal cities in developed countries, developing countries and Chinese coastal cities to address the audience and detail their achievements and experience in marine environmental protection. Prominent international scholars and leading environmental protection enterprises delivered special reports to present the current status and future trends of the development of technologies used in marine environmental protection. The forum came to a climax when all of the attending representatives from coastal cities signing the "Xiamen Declaration" on the night of October 8.

Mission of the forum

The forum partakes in in-depth and extensive discussions of wide-ranging issues including coastal management, management of land-based pollutants, protection of marine ecology, marine economy, near-sea economy, and protection and development of islands. The joint declaration issued last night is to create a globally influential alliance of coastal cities. This will create a sound platform for technical exchanges and cooperation between countries. It aimed at raising awareness of marine environmental protection in the region and throughout the world.

Background

At its 58th session in 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, proclaiming 2005-2015 as the international decade for Action with "Water for Life" as the theme. The sustainable development of coastal cities is facing enormous pressure; as this global challenge is not isolated to a single city or region, governments should intensify exchanges and cooperation and benefit from the experience of cities with similar conditions.

Environmental issues are attracting greater attention in China. New technology and legislation has led to improvements in cities' environmental conditions and nature reserves have been placed under greater protection. Xiamen has more than a decade of experience in implementing integrated coastal management (such as the experience with integrated coastal management, the treating of Yundang Lake, the rectification of aquaculture in Maluan Bay, and the current development status and achievements of the cyclic economy), making the city an ideal host for such an event. Therefore, Xiamen is willing to share its experiences and exchange views with other coastal cities.

The 2nd International Environmental Conference on Innovative Technologies and Management Options was successfully held in Xiamen in October 2004. The event was jointly organized by the UN Environment Program, the State Environment Protection Administration and Xiamen Municipal People's Government. At the conference, UNEP officials, during a meeting with Xiamen officials, proposed that Xiamen hold an International Forum for Coastal Cities (Seawater Forum), similar to the World Water Week in Stockholm (Freshwater Forum), and take the initiative in creating the world's first international alliance of coastal cities. There was a consensus on the proposal.

Significance and goals

This forum will seek solutions to key issues relating to urban planning and coastal management, especially land-sourced pollution, protection of marine environmental ecology and the management of water areas. The forum will focus on discussions of various issues, such as measures for local implementation of the Local Agenda 21, Millennium Development Goals, Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and other international treaties.

Today's Agenda

14:30-17:00 October 9

Experts & Mayors ForumⅠ

14: 30-15: 30
Chaired by Dr. Bowdin King, Program Coordinator of ICLEI
Keynote speech by prominent expert (speaker: Dr Hong Huasheng)
Speech from Canarias, Spain (speaker: Mr. Cullen, former governor)
Keynote speech by prominent expert (speaker: Mr. Hendrik Schlesing, Secretary General of EARTO)
Speech by the representative of Tacloban, the Philippines

Experts & Mayors ForumⅡ

15: 45-16: 30
Chaired by Mr. Hendrik Schlesing, Secretary General, European Association of Research and Technology Organization
Speech by the representative of Entebbe, Uganda (speaker: Mayor Mr. Stephen Kabuye)
Keynote speech by prominent expert (by Mr. Vincent Favrel, EU Technology & Information Officer)
Speech by the representative of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (speaker: Mr. Azahar Hakim Herriman)

Closing Ceremony

16: 30-17: 00
Chaired by Mr. Pan Shijian, Vice Mayor of Xiamen, Secretary-General of the Forum

Vocabulary
annual 一年一度的
partake 共享
integrate 结合