Overview:
President Surangel Whipps Jr. will co-chair the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo next week as leaders from around 30 island nations gather to address climate resilience, marine conservation and sustainable ocean governance.
KOROR, Palau — President Surangel Whipps Jr. will co-chair the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo next week, bringing together leaders from around 30 island nations to address climate resilience, ocean governance and sustainable management of marine resources.
The June 3-4 summit, hosted by The Nippon Foundation in partnership with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, is expected to draw about 300 participants, including heads of state, ministers, senior officials and representatives from United Nations agencies and international organizations.
Palau’s participation places the Pacific island nation at the center of global discussions on ocean protection and climate adaptation, with Whipps serving as co-chair in his role as chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, or AOSIS.
The summit will focus on Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management, known as SOPM, an evidence-based framework designed to help nations balance conservation and economic use of ocean resources while strengthening resilience against climate change.
Organizers said island nations remain among the most vulnerable countries to sea-level rise, ocean pollution and environmental degradation caused by climate change. The summit aims to provide a more focused platform dedicated specifically to ocean-related challenges facing island states.
Whipps will co-chair the discussions alongside Yohei Sasakawa, honorary chair of The Nippon Foundation, and Vidar Helgesen, executive secretary of the IOC.
The summit is being held under the framework of the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Outcomes from the meeting are expected to contribute to future international negotiations on biodiversity, climate change and ocean governance, including COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and COP31 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
According to organizers, the summit will bring together government leaders, scientists, industry representatives and members of the ocean community to explore new action plans aimed at protecting marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable economic development for island nations.
A new international initiative focused on ocean transformation and innovation is also expected to be announced during the final day of the summit.
The Nippon Foundation said it has supported island nations for decades, particularly in the Pacific, through maritime training, ocean science programs and the provision of patrol vessels and small boats.
The IOC, the U.N.’s lead body for ocean science, coordinates global cooperation in areas including tsunami warning systems, ocean observations, ocean literacy and sustainable ocean governance among its 153 member states.
