ATHENS, Greece, CMC—Caribbean Group (CARICOM) nations on Tuesday known as for a multilateral multilateral strategy to the transition to a “Blue economic system” to harness some great benefits of a brand new steadiness between financial growth, social cohesion, and sustainability.
As well as, the leaders of Dominica and Grenada stated that such an initiative would additionally enable the area to deal with some key challenges, comparable to biodiversity loss, local weather change, unsustainable fishing, marine air pollution, particularly from plastics, and unsustainable maritime transport.
Addressing the ninth Our Ocean Convention right here, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit advised delegates, “Clearly, there’s a disaster and a necessity for pressing motion.
“One of many necessary issues we now have to cope with on the planet, particularly the developed world, is to scale back carbon emission…and until we get an apparent resolution to scale back carbon emission, then we shall be talking and speaking in futility,” Skerrit advised the convention that’s being held underneath the theme “Our Ocean – An Ocean of Potential.” Watch video
Skerrit advised the delegates, together with representatives from non-governmental organizations, academia, and the non-public sector, that nations at this convention organized by the federal government of Greece achieve this “on the mercy of the developed world.
“We now have been to many of those engagements …and commend the federal government of Greece for internet hosting this necessary convention, however we have to see extra concrete motion taken.
“Everybody within the islands is taking motion to mitigate the impacts of local weather change on our oceans and our societies. However the developed world must do extra.”
He stated that in Dominica’s case, the island final 12 months declared the primary sperm whale reserve on the planet and that greater than 45 p.c of the nation is protected as a forest reserve, and 30 p.c of the ocean area is protected as a marine reserve.
“Apparently, one of many marine reserves is positioned in a fishing village, and each fisherman in that neighborhood respects the legislation of the land in defending the marine reserve.
‘So we now have performed our half, however extra advocacy and motion are wanted. We talk about the issue, however generally we don’t communicate concerning the options to the issue,” Skerrit stated, including, “I believe the financing to place in place mitigation measures is required now relatively than later. Watch video
“Time shouldn’t be on our aspect, and we now have to make sure we now have a greater society, a greater planet, and a greater ocean for succeeding generations,” Skerrit advised the two-day convention organizers. The convention’s organizers stated 4 elements are addressed explicitly as horizontal parts chopping throughout the six motion areas.
In his tackle, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell stated he wished to echo “the collective voices” of the Caribbean area, whose identities are deeply woven into the tapestry of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
He reiterated Skerrit’s place that “we now have a disaster,” saying, “To some extent, we’re preaching to the transformed as a result of…we’re those grappling greater than ever with the implications of local weather change, nature and biodiversity loss and air pollution”.
He stated that within the face of these challenges, the convention has been advised of the numerous initiatives being applied by affected states, and “within the case of Grenada, I share, for instance, our built-in coastal zone administration coverage, our non-biodegradable waste management act, our ban on single-use plastics, and our blue economic system roadmap.”
He stated these initiatives “are a testomony to our unwavering dedication to the sustainable utilization and growth of our marine assets.”
Mitchell stated these initiatives are additionally meant to fortify the island’s coastal resilience, together with concerted efforts in coral restoration and sustainable fisheries administration.
“We’re dedicated to preserving our marine heritage and advancing the sustainable growth of our unique financial zone,” Mitchell stated, including, “We made it a precedence to proceed to include formidable worldwide sustainable plans as a part of our dedication.”
He reminded delegates that Grenada has stood on this platform previously, advocating for distinctive circumstances for the worldwide small islands of huge ocean states.
“We shared as we’re doing right now lots of the options we predict might assist in addressing this disaster,” he stated, noting that “within the absence of multilateralism and maybe extra importantly, the absence of those that create the disaster, our success shall be restricted.
“And so I name upon us, the large ocean states, to make sure that we’re united in our strategy in ensuring that these whose actions require to assist us to sort out these points usually are not made for strolling away with commitments that aren’t applied.”
He stated Grenada will ratify a lot of conventions, together with the BBNJ (Past Nationwide Jurisdiction) Excessive Seas treaty. It’s going to additionally advance negotiations of the plastic treaty on the upcoming convention in Canada, in addition to initiatives to be handled on the SIDS convention in Antigua and Barbuda in Might this 12 months.
“However I wish to spotlight that with out guaranteeing that our younger persons are intimately concerned on this course of, we won’t make progress,” he stated, including that Grenada, in collaboration with UNESCO …is “pioneering an historic blue colleges curriculum…beginning in September to encourage marine literacy amongst our younger individuals.”
Mitchell stated he reaffirms Grenada’s dedication to multilateralism “in tackling the a number of crises going through our oceans, however as massive island states, we’d like the big land nations creating this disaster to work hand in hand with us to sort out these challenges.”
Watch the video – Our Ocean Conference Dominica PM Roosevelt Skerrit.
Watch the video – Our Ocean Conference Grenada PM Dickon Mitchell.
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