Nice, France – Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele, has called for full implementation of international ocean law and urgent climate action.

He was speaking on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum at the UN Ocean Action Panel 10 on Friday.

“Pacific People are the custodians of the Blue Pacific Continent,” Manele told delegates.

He highlighted the region’s shared 2050 Strategy, which outlines strong commitments to ocean conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

He urged all Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to uphold their obligations, and reaffirmed the Forum’s support for the early entry into force of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.

“We seek genuine partnerships and sustainable financing for the effective implementation of the Agreement,” he said.

Despite this commitment, Manele pointed to challenges within the region, including a lack of capacity and resources to fully implement international legal obligations.

Climate change, he warned, remains the greatest threat to the region’s livelihood, security, and wellbeing.

The PM reminded global partners of the two regional declarations endorsed by Forum Leaders: one on Preserving Maritime Zones, and another on Continuity of Statehood and Protection of Persons in the face of sea-level rise.

 “Both Declarations reinforce UNCLOS,” he said, calling for wider international support.

He welcomed the recent report by the International Law Commission on sea-level rise and international law, describing it as “an endorsement of the Pacific’s legal interpretations offered by the Declarations.”

He also acknowledged the recent advisory opinion by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and said the region looks forward to the upcoming opinion from the International Court of Justice.

Manele also referenced the Honiara Summit hosted in Solomon Islands earlier this year on SDG 14.4. He said, “we call on partners to assist us in our efforts as we implement the outcomes.”

He closed with a call to action: “International law must be implemented effectively to secure our ocean — including the Blue Pacific — for all of humanity now and for future generations to come.”

– OPMC