“The Pacific is the world’s largest ocean, covering nearly one-third of the Earth’s surface, it defines us as Pacific people, underpinning our livelihoods and way of life. With this in mind, the coming UN Oceans Conference and Sustainable Development Goal 14 are crucial for our Pacific region.
Although most SPREP members have small populations and economies, they are Large Ocean Island States responsible for managing more than ten per cent of the planet’s oceans. Approximately 98% of this area, totalling over 30 million square kilometres, is contained within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The ecosystem services provided to the entire planet by the ocean in, the SPREP region, can be valued in many billions of dollars annually.
In June this year the world is coming together to agree on the global journey forward, the Call to Action to help make SDG 14 a reality.
Pacific leaders have endorsed the Framework for the Pacific Oceanscape, establishing the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner and the Pacific Ocean Alliance (POA).
As POA members, we at SPREP in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are rolling out support for our Pacific island members and partners in preparation for the UN Ocean Conference in 5–9 June 2017.
This website is to help work with you, together we make up one crew at the UN Ocean Conference this year. The messages we share are the sails for our journey, and the different activities that we undertake to help share these messages will be the winds.
Our crew will be united as one, helping to ensure that our Pacific Ocean is healthy, ultimately benefitting our Pacific island communities.We hope you find it helpful.
Onwards and upwards,
Kosi Latu
Director General, SPREP