[SEOUL, 23 November 2023] – The North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC) is proud to announce the commemoration of its 30th anniversary. Established in 1993, NEASPEC has been a vital force in promoting environmental cooperation and sustainable development in North-East Asia.

The commemorative event took place on 23 November 2023 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, bringing together government officials, representatives from partner organizations, environmental experts, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations, and stakeholders from the member countries to reflect on three decades of achievements and discuss the future of environmental cooperation in the region.

“We are delighted to commemorate this significant milestone in the history of NEASPEC,” said Mr. Ganbold Baasanjav, Head of ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office. “Over the past three decades, NEASPEC has emerged as a beacon of regional collaboration, fostering environmental sustainability, and promoting shared responsibility. With renewed dedication, we can achieve even greater milestones, further solidifying our role in shaping a brighter, greener future for our region and beyond.” 

NEASPEC, a unique intergovernmental platform comprising China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation, has played a pivotal role in addressing common environmental challenges. Over the past 30 years, NEASPEC has gradually evolved by developing programmatic areas covering air pollution, biodiversity and nature conservation, marine protected areas, low carbon cities, and desertification and land degradation, expanding partnerships from governments to civil society organizations, and strengthening interlinkages of the work between global, subregional, regional, national, and local agendas.  

The commemorative event featured congratulatory remarks from member governments and roundtable discussions focusing on the accomplishments of NEASPEC and the way forward. This engagement provided a valuable opportunity for reflections not only on past achievements but also on the evolving dynamics faced by NEASPEC, shaping its future directions and continue commitment to environmental cooperation in the region. 

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About NEASPEC. The North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environment Cooperation (NEASPEC) is an intergovernmental cooperation mechanism established to promote environmental challenges in North-East Asia.  ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office serves as the secretariat to the NEASPEC.

For further information: https://neaspec.org/content/commemorative-event-30th-anniversary-neaspec

For media enquires or spokesperson interview requests, please contact

Mr. Tae Min Park

ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office

E: park1@un.org / escap-sroenea-registry@un.org