Commonwealth countries have adopted the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future, which calls on all 56 Commonwealth nations to protect and restore the ocean in the face of severe climate change, pollution and impacts related to over-exploitation.
The Commonwealth covers 36% of the world’s ocean under national jurisdiction and about 45% of the world’s coral reefs. Commonwealth small states comprise two-thirds of the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The declaration, agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, paves the way for robust, ambitious, innovative and transformative action for a Common Wealth of shared ocean prosperity, resilience and sustainability that builds on national and collective efforts to protect the ocean and use it sustainably.
Key aspects of the declaration include:
- Recognition of national maritime boundaries in the face of sea-level rise
- Protection of at least 30% of the ocean and restoring at least 30% of degraded marine ecosystems by 2030
- Urgent finalization of the Global Plastics Treaty
- Ratification of the high-seas biodiversity Agreement on Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (known as the BBNJ Agreement)
- Development and implementation of coastal climate adaption plans and strategies, including vulnerability assessments and nature-based solutions, such as blue carbon
- Stepped up support for a sustainable blue economy with sustainable ocean plans, recognizing the need for 100% management of national waters
- Reduction of emissions from global maritime shipping
- Enhanced marine renewable energy targets to meet the global climate goal of tripling renewable energy capacity, agreed as part of the UNFCCC Global Stocktake in Dubai last year.
The Commonwealth represents a third of the world’s population, and 49 of its 56 countries have a coastline. Crucially, 25 Commonwealth nations are SIDS, increasingly impacted by climate change, sea level rise, rising temperatures and increasing ocean acidity – impacting sea life, ecosystems and the communities that depend upon them.
“It is fitting that our first ocean declaration is adopted in the Blue Pacific continent given climate change has been recognised as the single greatest threat to the security and well-being of our people,” said the Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa which recently committed to managing 100% of its ocean and fully protecting 30%. “The ocean makes up 96% of our region; and where we are amongst the first to most immediately suffer the impacts of climate change. The Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future must be a line in the sand from which the world collectively transforms ocean exploitation into protection and sustainable stewardship. We look forward to moving from words to action!”
