PACIFIC leaders have called for stronger global investment in ocean sustainability after a gathering of more than 150 government, finance, and philanthropic leaders in Suva, Fiji, this week.
The Pacific Ocean Finance Week event aimed to advance funding and coordination for sustainable ocean management.
Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, said there was a need for greater transparency and sharing of ocean finance intelligence and data across the region.
He said this would help identify gaps, strengthen partnerships, support long-term planning and speed up delivery of projects and finance.
“The Pacific, Ocean is our home, our livelihoods, our supermarket, our futures fund, and endowment fund. For many of us in the region that is all we have,’’ Manoni said.
“The Ocean serves as the only and exclusive source of life, of vitality of economic development fueling our very national building aspirations. Pacific nations are world leaders in solutions, innovation, and commitment to safeguarding the ocean. Global partners must now match this with meaningful investment.’’
Manoni advanced the establishment of the Pacific Ocean Finance Group, a new regional mechanism to coordinate funding and guide investment toward priority action.
Mere Lakeba, Interim Vice President of Conservation International’s Pacific Program said that while the Pacific was a global leader in ocean management, it needed funding to match this ambition.
The Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner will support Pacific leaders in coordinating their commitments to the ocean, including through capacity building that will help countries access and secure finance.
The gathering was convened by the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner in partnership with Conservation International, Rare, and the Bezos Earth Fund, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
It included representatives of governments, regional organisations, investors, and ocean experts to exchange practical solutions and financing pathways tailored to Pacific needs.
During the week, Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, the Government of the United Kingdom and the Bezos Earth Fund convened high-level dialogues and technical sessions to advance country-led ocean finance solutions.
Through its First Wave grants under the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity Initiative, the Bezos Earth Fund is supporting Pacific governments to establish and sustainably finance large-scale marine protection aligned with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
“Pacific leaders have charted an ambitious course for ocean protection. Our role as the funding community is to support that vision with the kind of long-term, reliable financing that turns commitments into lasting results,” said Nicola Thomson at the Bezos Earth Fund.