Sinking Nations Should Keep Their Maritime Boundaries, Commonwealth Leaders Agree in First Ocean Declaration

49 of the 56 Commonwealth nations – former British colonies – have a coastline and 25 of them are small island states threatened by climate change, sea level rise, rising temperatures and increasing ocean acidity.

—

Commonwealth nations on Saturday adopted their first Ocean Declaration as calls for from some of Britain’s former colonies for reparatory justice for the trans-Atlantic slave trade mounted.

The Apia Ocean Declaration was announced on the last day of the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which took place in the Pacific island nation of Samoa. It calls on all 56 Commonwealth nations, 49 of which have a coastline, to protect the ocean in the face of severe climate, pollution and overexploitation.

25 of Britain’s former colonies are Small Island Developing States (SIDS) facing unique social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities such as sea level rise, rising temperatures, climate change-induced extreme weather events and ocean acidity. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports an accelerated rise in global sea levels affecting small island states, averaging 0.2 meters (0.7 feet) over the past century. 

In the declaration, Commonwealth leaders agreed that a nation’s maritime boundaries should remain fixed regardless of physical changes that may arise from sea level rise. In other words, the rights and economic benefits of vast fishing grounds continue to apply to these nations even if much of their population is forced to migrate as dry land is submerged.

The move follows a campaign by Tuvalu to secure statehood in perpetuity under international law. In addition to rising sea levels, which risks displacing 60% of the population by mid-century, the small island nation is increasingly battered by more frequent and severe weather events, such as cyclones and storm surges. These events further erode the delicate balance of the island’s ecosystems, making life increasingly precarious for its residents. 

You might also like: Tuvalu’s Sinking Reality: How Climate Change Is Threatening the Small Island Nation

Aside from the recognition of national maritime boundaries, the declaration mandates the protection of 30% of oceans and marine ecosystems restoration by 2030. It also calls for “urgently” finalizing the Global Plastics Treaty, ratifying the UN High-Seas Treaty, developing coastal climate adaptation plans and strengthening support for sustainable blue economies.

“It is fitting that our first ocean declaration is adopted in the Blue Pacific continent given climate change has been recognised as the single greatest threat to the security and well-being of our people,” said Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Samoa’s prime minister. “The ocean makes up 96 per cent of our region; and where we are amongst the first to most immediately suffer the impacts of climate change.”

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland praised the “incredible progress” since the adoption of the Blue Charter in 2018, adding that the new declaration paves the way for upcoming international meetings, including next month’s COP29 in Azerbaijan and next year’s UN Ocean Conference.

“We are immensely proud of this achievement and will leave no one behind as we advocate for stronger ocean protection,” Scotland said.

Featured image: UNDP Climate/Flickr.