Another example is our work with Vanuatu to look at its potential for what’s called ‘blue carbon’, which is the preserving of ocean biodiversity, and the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere and therefore create a beacon service system for the world that is beneficial in climate change terms. It is the first survey of its kind in the region. We are exploring partnership in these areas with the Nordic Council of Ministers. What’s really interesting about the partnership is that it has experience in what it calls the bio economy, a locally based economic approach looking at local economic opportunities. For example, in The Bahamas, lobster tails are thrown away during fishing, so we’re trying to source simple technology for processing those lobster tails, creating aromatic compounds that can then be exported, thus getting a fuller use out of the ocean resource. What is also important, as I’ve already emphasised, is the strengthening of resource management under national jurisdiction and then regional jurisdiction, because, of course, the regional picture is important for sustainability – and sustainability is key. We are doing this pragmatically and step by step, understanding the capacities and institutions of small states, by mapping institutions and bringing them together, funding small and pragmatic steps to grow that management capacity, and gradually securing greater and greater governance, security and economic benefits from that resource. Achieving all this will require a much more supportive international environment. We need both innovative financing mechanisms, such as innovative climate change and action for debt swap, and an effective financing framework for the post-2015 development agenda for small states in order to unlock financing and support them in these areas. We will also require an effective trading framework under the World Trade Organization and under regional agreements that is supportive of small states’ interests. A side event with UNCTAD, held at the Samoa Conference, outlined the trade opportunities and international trading framework that small states need in order to support their efforts within the ocean states. R i s k a n d r e s i l i e n c e Environmental leadership in the Pacific Elisabeth Holland Solutions to climate change come in many different packages. Within the Pacific there has been the emergence of a new path forward, with commitments based on building sustainable blue economies, or if you prefer, green economies in a blue world. This is evident in the Pacific Island Development Forum’s commitment to moving the environment to the forefront of future plans, and the enactment of the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership, which commits to the reduction of Pacific emissions. The commitment of Pacific countries to reduce their emissions is especially significant given that, on the whole, the emissions of Pacific Island countries are net negative. Despite this, Pacific countries have taken the role of leaders of climate change solutions. They are all making a strong commitment to blue–green economies and to green frameworks – the sort of leadership that can give one hope that climate change can be combated. When we begin to look at the situation in the Pacific we see very much the same thing that we see in the Caribbean, there is both top-down, as well as community-driven leadership. Leadership needs to begin with communities finding solutions to protect their marine environment. In Kadavu, Fiji, there is serious threat to the marine environment in the form of poaching. The night before the main ferry leaves Kadavu the bêche-de-mer sea cucumber is poached, which is then sent on the ferry from Kadavu to Suva. The question is how can we support these communities to prevent these small scale poaching activities? For the marine environment to be protected, emphasis must be placed on ensuring the sustainability of not just the large-scale fishing activities such as that seen in the tuna trade, but also small-scale and near-shore fishing. The bêche-de-mer trade may seem like a secondary economy but it is not, the bêche-de-mer trade to China is a substantial multi-million dollar trade. In addition, it is important to think about ways of compensating Pacific Island countries for the ecosystem services provided by the surrounding ocean. The EEZs of Pacific Island countries and territories absorb ten per cent of the total ocean sink of carbon dioxide per annum. Every year 200 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide is absorbed by the Pacific Ocean at great cost to Pacific nations due to ocean acidification and the associated problems. To conclude, I would like to congratulate the true leadership exhibited by Pacific nations, and hope that we can build stronger South-South co-operation with the help and support of the Commonwealth. Learning from the Sharp End Terra Sprague Learning from the Sharp End of Environmental Uncertainty in SIDS is a newly launched partnership with the emphasis on learning from the sharp end of environmental uncertainty, which builds on 20 years of partnership experience with the Education in Small States Research Group at the University of Bristol. The partnership is multidisciplinary, and interested in learning, primarily from SIDS. The belief of the partnership is that there is much that the global Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 127 Blue economy and the SDGs In the context of the blue economy, Sustainable Development Goal 14 is of particular significance: ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’. This goal addresses combating pollution; managing coastal ecosystems; ocean acidification; overfishing and illegal fishing; economic benefits from fisheries, aquaculture and tourism; scientific knowledge and research capacity; access to resources and markets; and implementation of international law, including UNCLOS. Other SDGs address poverty; food security; education; gender equality; water and sanitation; sustainable energy; decent work for all; infrastructure; reducing inequality; human settlements; sustainable consumption and production; climate change; protection of terrestrial ecosystems including forests and biodiversity; inclusive societies and institutions; and strengthening the means of implementation. It is hard to see any of these goals not contributing to the blue economy.
CEP template 2012
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