Environment

September 25, 2026
Japanese
Ambassador SUGIURA taking photo with members of The Eighth Ocean Panel Leaders’ Meeting of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

On September 23, commencing at 8:15 a.m. local time (9:15 p.m. JST), for approximately 75 minutes, the Eighth Ocean Panel Leaders’ Meeting of “the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy” was held during the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in which Mr. SUGIURA Masatoshi, Director-General for Global Issues, attended on behalf of Prime Minister Takaichi, Japan’s member of this Ocean Panel.

  1. At the outset, H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr STØRE, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, and H.E. Mr. Surangel S. WHIPPS, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, serving as co-chairs of this meeting, delivered opening remarks, referencing the progress of international efforts on sustainable oceans and highlighting the importance of advancing their implementation.
  2. During the discussion among participating countries, an exchange of views took place on accelerating the implementation of ocean-climate action, towards the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP31, scheduled to be held in November of this year.
    Japan introduced that, at the Island States Ocean Summit held in Tokyo in June this year, leaders from island nations discussed issues such as the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and sea level rise due to climate change. Japan further introduced that, in order to accelerate the implementation of ocean-climate action, Japan is undertaking initiatives such as surveys and public-private partnerships to establish methods for quantifying greenhouse gases absorbed and sequestered by blue carbon ecosystems, as well as support for the management of fishery resources and the conservation of marine ecosystems in countries such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Furthermore, Japan expressed that it will continue to cooperate with other countries to advance these efforts, so that the Ocean Panel can lead the promotion of action through sharing insights and further deepening cooperation, as the Panel bringing together leaders from maritime nations from across regions ranging from small island states to developed countries.
  3. Finally, the Co-Chairs announced the issuance of a Leaders’ Communiqué which reaffirms the Ocean Panel’s commitment to accelerating action for sustainable oceans, as well as a progress report summarising the outcomes of the Ocean Panel through 2026.

(Reference1) High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

  1. Initiated by Norway and composed of leaders of the following maritime nations: Norway, Palau, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Fiji, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, UAE, Seychelles, UK
  2. Aims to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by discussing measures for preserving a healthy marine environment and building a sustainable ocean economy.
  3. The panel has convened approximately once a year, since 2018, and following then Prime Minister Abe, subsequent prime ministers have served as members. In December 2020, it issued a Leaders' Communiqué titled “Transformations for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.”

(Reference2)

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