TOKYO - Around 300 representatives from over 30 island nations gathered Wednesday in Tokyo for a two-day conference to discuss maritime conservation and measures to combat climate change, on a scale that Japan's Foreign Ministry said is unprecedented.
The inaugural Island States Ocean Summit, hosted by the Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest philanthropic foundation, brings together state leaders and other officials from countries in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea.
"We want to support countries and regions suffering from extreme weather events and rising sea levels. Cooperation with all of you who share the same aspirations is indispensable to achieving sustainable oceans based on the rule of law," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at the opening ceremony.
Palau's president, Surangel Whipps, who co-chaired the event, stressed that island nations need "financing that reaches us, technology that works in our context and a political will to match commitments," calling for an action plan "that brings harmony and hope to the generations to come."
In total, 35 countries, including Australia, Britain, Cuba, Fiji, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, joined the meeting. Participants expressed concern about the intensifying impacts of climate change-related disasters and the loss of biodiversity.
Those struggling with marine debris highlighted the need for an international treaty to combat plastic pollution, while others argued that countries should better understand the marine resources in their surrounding waters and use them to support sustainable economic activity.
A concluding document is expected to be issued on the closing day of the summit on Thursday for use in discussions at international forums, including the U.N. Climate Change Conference to be held in Turkey in November.
