The Melanesian Ocean Summit at APEC Haus, Port Moresby, focuses on ocean finance and the Blue Economy Initiative, as Pacific leaders renew calls to achieve the global “30 by 30” target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Plenary discussions centre on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with the objective of strengthening the understanding of existing and future networks of conservation initiatives across the region.
The Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Sefanaia Nawadra, opened the session by highlighting the region’s united stance.
He noted that the “Pacific Six” negotiating bloc is instrumental in securing vital recognition for Pacific conservation needs.
According to Nawadra, the region currently stands at approximately 20 percent protection. While Palau, Niue, and the Cook Islands already surpass the 30 percent mark, other nations are working to close the remaining 10 percent gap.
“The rest of the countries are committed, but we still need to work at achieving our national targets and our coordinated regional objectives,” Nawadra says.
Funding dominates the discussions, with Nawadra emphasising that the “building blocks” are now in place.
He highlighted the importance of private partnerships, such as recent engagements with the Bezos Earth Fund alongside traditional knowledge and regional unity to drive the Blue Economy.
“We have governments that are committed, we have regional mechanisms for support, and we are starting to put in place the financing mechanisms to allow us to do so,” he added.
The summit continues today, where delegates expect to finalise a regional framework for ocean action, a step seen as critical to meeting the 30 by 30 target.
