South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme Symposium

The South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), in partnership with the UK’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), funded as part of the UK’s Blue Planet Fund, completed the SACEP Symposium 2024.

Held from November 18-22 in Colombo, the Symposium included in-person participation from 5 of the SACEP countries within the region. This significant event brought together Marine Pollution-response experts, government officials, and regional stakeholders for the first time since 2015, to strengthen South Asia’s preparedness and response to Marine Pollution incidents.

The Symposium aimed to reinvigorate the SACEP Marine Pollution-response framework initiated in 2015, by evaluating national capacities, addressing barriers to progress, and identifying opportunities for mutual aid and regional coordination. This event benefited the region by identifying gaps in readiness and clarifying key responsibilities in emergency response to pollution events at a national level.

With Sri Lanka as the host, participants discussed lessons learned from local past incidents and witnessed the deployment of specialist equipment in previously affected areas. Further discussions showcased best practices from around the world and identified training needs for each country to ensure a resilient and sustainable response network in the region.

The Symposium concluded with a practical deployment exercise led by MEPA and the Sri Lanka Coastguard, showcasing specialist emergency response equipment in-situ within harbour and beach environments, followed by closing remarks.

The Symposium marked a crucial opportunity to update the SACEP regional plan, ensuring that South Asia remains well-prepared to face future Marine Pollution challenges. Organised jointly by SACEP and OCPP, this collaborative event laid the foundations for a more resilient and coordinated regional approach to Marine Pollution.

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