Island nations agree on maritime conservation fund in Tokyo

Tokyo — A number of island nations agreed on Thursday (4/6) to establish a support fund for maritime conservation efforts as part of an action plan announced at the closing of a two-day conference in Tokyo, Japan.

At the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit, participants shared concerns that the marine environment is facing an increasingly severe crisis due to climate change, the stalling of international discussions, and a shortage of technical experts.

Participants agreed that concrete action is urgently required, positioning the conference as a new framework for international cooperation to address these challenges.

The fund will be jointly established by Japan’s largest philanthropic foundation, the Nippon Foundation, and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, both of which co-hosted the event.

The action plan also calls for human resource training in several island nations and the establishment of a data centre in Tokyo to collect information regarding sea-level rise and seabed topography.

The Island States Ocean Summit brought together approximately 300 representatives from over 30 island nations, including countries from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea.