Environment
Inaugural Meeting of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy
On Monday, September 24, from 17:30 p.m. (JST 4:30 a.m.) for approximately 2 hours, the Inaugural Meeting of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy was held at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. The overview of the meeting and the message from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (read by Ambassador Suzuki, Assistant Vice-Minister for Global Issues) are as follows.
1. At the outset, H.E.Ms. Erna Solberg Prime Minister of Kingdom of Norway and H.E. Mr. Tommy Remengesau, President of the Republic of Palau co-chairs of this Panel, delivered opening addresses. Thereafter, heads of governments in attendance and H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean expressed their respective views on a sustainable ocean economy.
2. In his message, Prime Minister Abe highly commended Prime Minister Solberg for taking on this important initiative that contributes to the achievements of SDGs such as Goal 14, and pointed out that this Panel’s discussion should focus on strictly enforcing the rule of law in the oceans and harmonizing the use and the science-based conservation of the oceans.
From these perspectives, he identified three issues to be addressed at the panel.
(1) First, is the issue of marine plastic litter. He stated that measures to address the problem of marine plastic litter can no longer wait, and all countries, each one of us must now take action, as it relates to our own issue. He also expressed his hope that we can deepen discussions on how to tackle this growing problem at this panel, and that Japan would like to contribute to the global community, using our technologies and expertise for this issue.
Also, he stated that the G20 Osaka Summit will feature Ocean Plastic Wastes on the agenda, and Japan would like to announce an initiative for effective measures to tackle this problem, and drive global measures to help resolve this issue.
(2) The second issue is how to deal with the effect of climate change on the oceans. Prime Minister Abe pointed out the effect of climate change on the oceans, and stated that the panel may seek to address this issue, including how to assist Small Island Developing States that are particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
(3) The third issue is the problem of sustainable fishery. Prime Minister Abe stated that illegal, unreported, and unregulated (or IUU) fishing remains a threat to the sustainable use of marine resources, and he would like to address future measures on this issue on this panel.
Leaders of the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of Ghana, Jamaica, the United Mexican States and the Republic of Namibia, who are members of this panel attended.