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At the Our Oceans Conference in Palau, there was an air of urgency, opportunity and optimism.
And New Zealand’s voice at the forum, Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, called on governments, civil society and businesses to act with urgency to realise opportunities for their people and their oceans’ health.
Aupito warned that it was a crucial year and that the world must come together to solve the climate crisis.
He urged forum members to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world’s oceans, coastal communities and the health of the planet.
PIFS
More than 500 participants from more than 80 countries attended this week’s Our Oceans Conference in Palau.
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After two days of discussions between 500 participants from 80 countries, the conference was hosted by Palau.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr called for commitment and partnership, saying: “We must be bold and creative, everyone has a role to play for our ocean, our people, our prosperity.”
PIFS
Welcome to Koror: President Surangel Wipps Jr of Palau greets Secretary-General Henry Puna, Pacific Islands Forum.
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry also addressed the forum: “You can’t solve the problem of the ocean without dealing with the climate, and you can’t solve the problem of the climate without dealing with the ocean.
“The world is being warned by scientists that are telling us that it is a matter of mathematics, physics – not ideology, not politics – but the facts are telling us what is happening to our planet. Kerry stated that ninety percent of the heat from the planet is going into the ocean.
Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, Tongan Prime Minister, also spoke at the conference.
“The ocean is critical for Tonga and islands in the Pacific and the conference gives us the opportunity to discuss ways we can work together to ensure that we are able to sustainably manage our ocean and its resources for our livelihoods,” the Tongan prime minister said.
“We are small island communities with small economies and capacities and managing our ocean alone.”
Island Times
Children from Palau show support for the oceans.
A new political alliance against deep sea mining in the Pacific was created to coincide with the opening day of the conference.
The Pacific Parliamentarians Alliance on Deep Sea Miner (PPADSM), a group of regional leaders, shares strong concerns about large corporations and powerful governments’ plans to exploit the ocean floor for mineral resources.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s opposition leader, chairs the Alliance. It includes MPs from Aotearoa (the Autonomous Region of Bougainville), Guam and Fiji, French Polynesia (the Solomon Islands), Tuvalu and Palau.
This year marks the United Nations-designated International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well as the second year of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
PIFS
We are urging you to better understand and strengthen the oceans’ ability as a climate solution.
The New York-based Environmental Defence Fund, one of the world’s leading international non-profit organisations, said 2022 is also a year in which the world is continuing to witness accelerating impacts of climate change.
The fund’s senior vice-president Eric Schwaab said climate impacts were driving changes in food security for more than a billion people worldwide.
“People rely on fish as a primary source of protein, income security for millions and an untold number of coastal communities who are witnessing sea level rise and other impacts.
“We must do everything possible to combat climate pollution and limit planetary heating. At the same time, we must also act now on critical solutions that will help billions of people adapt to a climate-impacted future, including making our fisheries more resilient in the face of climate change.”
PIFS
Leaders meet John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change.
The New Zealand Government has committed $4 million to climate change assessment.
Aupito stated that the funds would be going to the University of the South Pacific as well as the University of Canterbury. The fund’s framework is still being finalised.
“While we all know climate change poses a dire threat to the Pacific, there are still many knowledge gaps.
“The goal of this assessment is to fill those gaps and support Pacific resilience through effective evidence-based decision-making. It has a particular focus on ensuring the region’s rich traditional knowledge systems are part of this evidence base.”
Aupito said that global leaders need to realize the devastating impact their failure to take climate action has on the Pacific region.
PIFS
Aupito Sio, the Minister for Pacific Peoples, is adding New Zealand’s voice to address the climate crisis in Palau.
Last month, New Zealand assured residents in Fiji’s north of its commitment to the newly launched Climate Resilient Islands Programme.
The project, launched in Labasa Town, was spearheaded by the Live and Learn team and targeted six villages on the country’s second largest island Vanua Levu – Dreketi, Naiqaqi, Valeni in Cakaudrove, Vitina, Naibulu and Nawailevu in the provinces of Macuata and Bua.
NZ High Commission’s Second Secretary in Suva, Constance Minett, said the climate change issues had been discussed many times in the Pacific and her government’s assurance proved they were serious about helping the Fijians.
