PEMSEA, which began as a regional mechanism of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in 1994, applies the ICM framework towards sustainable development to achieve harmony between the development of coastal areas and the ocean and to guide environmental conservation in East and South East Asia. As of May 2020, 11 countries in East and South East Asia have joined as partners and 21 non-governmental organizations are also affiliated. While PEMSEA's activities are not legally binding power in accordance with international conventions, its basic principle is "partnership" for the purpose of sharing goals and strategies.
Consent and ratification by the then eight partner countries of PEMSEA led to PEMSEA receiving the status of an international legal personality in November 2011, reflecting PEMSEA's evolution from a regional project of GEF into an international organization.
PEMSEA conducts ICM with local governments acting as the main body. In September 2013, Shima City, in Mie prefecture, Japan, joined PNLG (the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments) as the first Japanese local government.
OPRI is a non-governmental partner of PEMSEA, and Keita Furukawa, long associated with OPRI, serves on the Executive Committee of PEMSEA as a Technical Session Co-Chair.
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