Fiji Welcomes UK’s 30by30 Global Ocean Alliance Initiative
While other nations are using COVID-19 as an excuse to pause, or even roll back, Fiji won’t accept excuses when it comes to the environment. This was a statement made by the Attorney-General Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum as he welcomed the United Kingdom government’s ‘30by30’ Global Ocean Alliance Initiative yesterday.
The Attorney-General said that the ‘30by30’ Initiative would be reflected in Fiji’s upcoming National Ocean Policy.
He said that Fiji was among the six Pacific Island member states that would work to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in the use of fossil fuels in domestic shipping by 2030. “Over 90 per cent of the world trade is carried across the world’ oceans by some 90,000 marine vessels,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“This is a vital step to our longerterm goal: a zero emission marine shipping sector in the Pacific by 2050.”
After the ban of single-use plastic bags effective from January 1, Fiji will continue to build momentum towards the phasing of styrofoam in 2021.
“We will be building momentum by phasing styrofoam containers from 2021, in what will be another win for our waterways, wetlands, coastlines, and coastal and marine ecosystems,” he said.
British High Commissioner to Fiji Melanie Hopkins said through the Global Ocean Alliance, the United Kingdom was encouraging like-minded countries to join the coalition.
“I would like to congratulate the Honourable Minister for the excellent work Fiji is doing through is first National Ocean Policy which is a step-forward for Fiji’s ocean governance,” Ms Hopkins said. The event was held at the British
High Commission residence in Suva to commemorate the World Ocean’s Day celebration yesterday.
The ‘30by30’ Initiative goals is to sustain 30 per cent of the global ocean with marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030.
The theme for this year’s World Oceans Day was “Innovative for Sustainable Ocean”.