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Busan Metropolitan City to Host 2026 PNLG Forum, Discussing a Sustainable Ocean Future with East Asian Coastal Cities

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will host the 2026 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments Forum for three days from September 8 to 10 at Paradise Hotel Busan.

PNLG is a local-government cooperation network under Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), through which local governments share policies and experiences for sustainable coastal and marine development and promote cooperation with one another. Busan Metropolitan City joined PNLG in December 2021 and has actively participated in its activities. In May 2025, Busan was confirmed as the host city for the 2026 PNLG Forum.

Held under the theme “Empowering Coastal Cities for a Blue Future,” the forum is expected to bring together more than 200 participants, including delegations from 20 local governments in six countries—Korea, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste—as well as marine experts from Korea and abroad and representatives of relevant organizations.

The forum will consist of an opening ceremony, a PNLG-PNLC Joint Learning Forum, the PNLG General Assembly, and site visits.

PNLC refers to the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers.

On September 8, the first day of the forum, the opening ceremony will be followed by the PNLG-PNLC Joint Learning Forum on coastal city responses in the era of the climate crisis and a sustainable blue economy.

The Joint Learning Forum will address major issues facing coastal cities and possible responses, including expanding local government-led blue carbon initiatives and nature-based solutions (NbS), strengthening watershed-estuary linkages for climate resilience, restoring coastal ecosystems, and promoting investment and innovation in local blue economies.

In particular, member local governments from Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and other countries, together with experts from Korea and abroad, will share regional policies and field cases and explore the role of local governments and avenues for cooperation to advance sustainable coastal and marine development.

At the PNLG General Assembly on the morning of September 9, members will adopt the Busan Declaration, which embodies their shared commitment to action.

The Busan Declaration will set out common directions for action by member local governments to address shared challenges facing coastal cities, including climate change and marine pollution, and to realize a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient blue economy.

Its key elements include strengthening integrated Source-to-Sea management linking land and ocean, enhancing ocean and climate action, advancing a sustainable and resilient blue economy, and reinforcing cooperation and partnerships among local governments, communities, the private sector, and academia.

The General Assembly will also review PNLG’s major achievements in 2026 and its 2027 work plan, welcome new members, announce the host city for the next forum, and hold a PNLG flag handover ceremony.

Participants will also visit key marine environmental and ecological sites in Busan on the afternoon of September 9 and the morning of September 10.

On the afternoon of September 9, participants will visit the Marine Environment Education Center of the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation and the National Maritime Museum of Korea to learn about Busan’s marine environmental education and maritime culture.

On the morning of September 10, participants will visit the Nakdong Estuary Eco Center to observe ecosystem conservation and wetland management at the Nakdong River estuary and share policies and experiences for sustainable coastal management.

The forum is particularly significant as a major international maritime event to be held after Busan was selected as the host city for the 4th United Nations Ocean Conference in 2028.

Through the forum, Busan Metropolitan City plans to share its marine environmental policies and related field practices with coastal cities across East Asia and create a platform for exchanging experiences and policies on marine issues facing local governments.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “The Busan Declaration will have genuine meaning only when it goes beyond words and leads to tangible changes in the policies and practices of each city. Busan will play an active role in carrying the solutions and achievements developed on the ground by East Asian coastal cities forward to the 4th United Nations Ocean Conference in 2028 and ensuring that the voices of coastal cities are reflected in the international community’s discussions on ocean issues.”