The health of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand faces immense pressure from land-based pollution, making the upcoming Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Land-Based Pollution (RWG-LbP) in Batam, Indonesia (26-28 November 2025) a pivotal event. This meeting is critical for the SCS SAP Project ("Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand") as it drives coordinated regional action against one of the basin's most significant environmental threats.
The RWG-LbP gathers members from six participating countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) to review national achievements in pollution control and chart the path forward. A key focus is the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP) process, where the group will review the status and draft outline for national and regional TDA reports on pollution. This scientific consensus is vital for shaping future investments.
The meeting is set to strengthen cooperation by reviewing the overall status and progress of the SCS SAP implementation. Discussions will concentrate on finalizing the mechanism and ways to move forward for implementing and tracking regional activities. Participants will also examine documentation on good practices in habitat and land-based pollution management and review achievements from the 2008-2021 SAP phase.
The outcomes of this meeting are essential for upholding the environmental security pillar of the project and demonstrating measurable progress toward a cleaner, more resilient Seas of East Asia. The event culminates in a field visit on 28 November to observe and exchange best practices firsthand.
