First ministerial meeting of archipelagic and island states forum
Twenty-one Archipelagic Island States (AIS) met in Manado, Indonesia, this week for the First Ministerial Meeting of AIS.
It aims to address common development challenges that inhibit their ability to live and grow prosperously and sustainably.
Archipelagic Island States are facing existential threats that include climate change, natural disasters, marine pollution, marine plastic debris, unsustainable fisheries and ocean sustainability, which seriously risk the survivability of these nations. In addressing the AIS forum, the Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau, shared Fiji’s commitment as current chair of COP23 and Co-President of the first UN Oceans Conference in New York in 2017.
Mr Koroilavesau called on AIS Member States to remain committed in adopting innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt new, innovative solutions to safeguard the ocean resources.
This can only be through co-operation and collaboration between nations who share the same views.
“As President of COP23, Fiji took the role to represent all our vulnerable communities including members of the AIS Forum to call on the global community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Koroilavesau said.
“We must all do more than our fair share if we are to avert climate devastation for our planet. Fiji speaks for every Fijian and AIS member countries, and for the billions of climate-vulnerable people globally when we say: ‘we are not doing enough, we can and we must do more’.
“Fiji hopes that we can leave here educated and appreciative of what we can gain and offer as AIS members.
“It is our hope that we leave enlightened to enable us to build our resilience over the deteriorating health of the ocean, including the significant adverse impacts of climate change.”
The ministerial meeting ended on November 2, 2018, with the adoption of the historic Manado Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the Archipelagic and Island States Forum, which was negotiated in the three Senior Official Meetings in Indonesia this year.