UK (Commonwealth Union)_ Cyprus is set to host the inaugural Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting on April 19, 2024, with the theme ‘Our Resilient Common Ocean: from Cyprus to Samoa’. This meeting follows a directive from leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda in 2022, urging concerted action toward the preservation and sustainable utilization of the ocean, seas, and marine resources.
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Accordingly, government ministers and senior officials from across the Commonwealth will convene, presenting an opportunity to amplify the collective voice of member nations on ocean-related matters. Although coastal states constitute 49 of the 56 Commonwealth members, the dependence on the ocean extends to all countries for trade, transportation, resource access, and security. During their time in Cyprus, Commonwealth ministers in charge of ocean affairs will convene to devise the principles, priorities, and actionable items for a Commonwealth Ocean Declaration. Additionally, they also aim to establish a roadmap that will facilitate the adoption of this declaration at the forthcoming CHOGM 2024 in Samoa.
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Addressing the significance of the ocean, Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, emphasized its pivotal role in sustaining billions of livelihoods, directly influencing factors such as food security, global warming, economic resilience, and trade. However, challenges such as climate change, sea level rise, acidification, biodiversity loss, overfishing, and plastic pollution are imposing increasingly detrimental effects on oceanic ecosystems. She stated, “The livelihoods of billions of people depend on the ocean because it is directly linked to food security, global warming, economic resilience and trade. Yet climate change, sea level rise, acidification, biodiversity loss, overfishing and plastic pollution are increasingly depleting our oceans”.
Secretary-General Scotland also highlighted the imperative for collective action, stating that the inaugural Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting will thrust the ocean to the forefront of Commonwealth initiatives. It will serve as a crucial platform for ministers to exchange experiences and advancements in fulfilling international commitments, including those outlined in the Commonwealth Blue Charter. She added, “No country can solve these challenges alone. The first Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting will keep the ocean at the front and center of Commonwealth action and provide a valuable forum for ministers to share experiences and progress on implementing international commitments and the Commonwealth Blue Charter.”
April 19th marks precisely six years since the adoption of the Commonwealth Blue Charter at CHOGM 2018, where leaders committed to collaborative efforts in addressing shared oceanic challenges and safeguarding this vital resource for future generations. Since 2018, the Commonwealth Secretariat has significantly expanded its endeavors in this domain. This expansion includes the establishment and backing of country-led Blue Charter Action Groups, the inception of an ocean project incubator, and the provision of technical support on ocean governance, including facilitating access to financing for ocean-related climate initiatives. Additionally, media outlets interested in covering the Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting in Cyprus are urged to register their attendance by completing the accreditation form.
