13 June 2025, Nice France - As guardians of the world’s largest ocean basin – 20 per cent of the world’s Ocean, the Pacific underscored that a holistic approach to sustainable Ocean-based economies, and community resilience, is key to sustainable development.
Challenges of rising sea levels, intensifying cyclones, Ocean acidification, and the world’s highest per capita maritime transport costs strike at the heart of our economies, our infrastructure, our resilience, and the very survival of our coastal communities.
The Kingdom of Tonga, on behalf of the Pacific Island Forum countries, emphasised that building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ocean-based economies is underpinned by integrated ocean governance and management, to align economic development with ecological integrity, traditional knowledge, and inclusive and participatory decision-making.
This message was delivered loud and clear on the French Riviera in Nice, France where more than 60 heads of state and government leaders, including many from Pacific countries, are attempting to tackle a deepening crisis in the Ocean driven by overfishing, climate change and pollution.
The third UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica is guided by the overarching theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
The meeting, amongst other things, consists of 10 Ocean Action Panels (OAP) on topics such as blue finance, sustainable fisheries, plastic pollution and others.
Speaking during OAP6 on advancing sustainable ocean-based economies, sustainable maritime transport and coastal community resilience leaving no one behind, Dr. Vailala Matoto, CEO of Tonga’s Ministry of Fisheries, explained that solutions include targeted investment in sustainable industries - including ecotourism, ocean renewable energy, aquaculture, and low carbon maritime enterprises that drive local resilience and innovation.
“We call for urgent investment to strengthen capacities of the Pacific in environmental governance - including strategic environmental assessments and transboundary impact assessments - to ensure that all ocean-based development is guided by sound science and knowledge, equity, and sustainability,” Dr. Matoto said.
On the urgent need to transform maritime transport, the Kingdom of Tonga reminded that 80% of goods in the Pacific are moved by sea, isolating many outer island communities.
To address this, there must be recognition of maritime transport as an essential public service and a core enabler of sustainable development across large Ocean states. Investment in domestic shipping, low- and zero-emission vessels, inter-island connectivity, and maritime safety systems is also critical.
“We call for prioritisation of climate-resilient port infrastructure to safeguard trade, mobility, and economic stability in Pacific SIDS, given increasing exposure to sea-level rise, cyclones, coastal erosion, and flooding,” said Dr. Matoto.
He added that increased concessional finance and capacity-building to help Pacific SIDS address their limited fiscal and technical capacity in adapting critical maritime infrastructure is a must, including implementing the Regional Strategy for Pacific Women in Maritime, to drive gender equality.
“We are committed to a 1.5°C pathway, and urge international partners to support implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy in ways that are informed by Pacific Realities,” he emphasized.
Dr. Matoto urged for scaled-up investment in multi-hazard early warning systems, by aligning investment with Pacific driven initiatives such as the Weather Ready Pacific Programme, enabling timely, riskinformed decisions for coastal communities particularly those dependent on fisheries, tourism, maritime transport, and coastal infrastructure.
Tonga also called for scaled-up investment in Nature-based solutions—like mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds, effective management of marine protected areas, green infrastructure for natural coastal protection — that protect our coasts while sustaining livelihoods.
“We urge all partners to stand with us, to invest in our solutions, and to help us deliver on the promise of SDG 14, for a resilient and prosperous ocean, people and planet.”
The third UN Ocean Conference is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025. The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
The Pacific Islands are represented by a strong contingent, which includes leaders from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa and Tuvalu. Also present and engaged are Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is providing support to Pacific delegations as part of the One CROP support. SPREP will provide more Pacific news from the UNOC2025. For further information on the UN Ocean Conference 2025, please visit: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025
PHOTO CREDIT: IISD/ENB - Kiara Worth