Font size:
Print
Indo-Pacific Marine Cooperation
Context:
The Indo-Pacific region, abundant in marine resources, is among the areas most vulnerable to climate change and biodiversity loss.
More on News:
- Research warns that mangrove forests in regions with low tidal ranges and minimal sediment supply could vanish by 2070.
- These marine ecosystems are vital for regional food security, livelihoods, and global climate mitigation, as they serve as significant carbon sinks.
- However, these ecosystems face growing threats from environmental changes and human activities.
Strategies:
To address these dual crises, robust cooperation among Indo-Pacific nations is imperative.
- Strengthening Scientific Research Networks and Data Sharing: Establishing a comprehensive scientific research network and enhancing data-sharing mechanisms are foundational steps.
- Collaborative efforts among marine scientists, biologists, and climate experts are essential to monitor biodiversity loss and climate change impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.
- Regional bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) can facilitate real-time information sharing through a unified platform.
- Expanding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Conserving Carbon Sinks: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and building resilience against climate change.
- The Indo-Pacific region, home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows, hosts some of the most biodiverse ecosystems that act as vital carbon sinks.
- Countries in the region must collaborate to expand MPAs, creating transboundary networks to protect ecosystem connectivity and migratory species.
- For example, the Coral Triangle Initiative, co-managed by Indonesia and the Philippines, provides a model for transnational ecosystem management.
- Adopting Nature-Based Ocean Climate Solutions: Nature-based solutions are essential for climate adaptation and mitigation.
- Initiatives like the Pacific Mangroves Initiative (PMI) and the Ocean-Based Climate Action (OBCA) program launched by UNESCAP in 2023 exemplify successful efforts in this domain.
- Such projects could be scaled up across the region, supported by regional climate financing mechanisms to ensure countries have the resources needed for implementation.
- Engaging Local Communities and Leveraging Traditional Knowledge: Local communities in the Indo-Pacific possess valuable traditional knowledge of sustainable marine resource management.
- Models like the Philippines’ community-based MPAs and Fiji’s Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) highlight the importance of community participation in marine conservation.
- Boosting Financial Support and Technology Transfer: Financial assistance and technology transfer are essential for empowering developing states in the Indo-Pacific to address climate and biodiversity challenges effectively.
- Developed countries and global organisations must provide substantial support under frameworks like the Paris Agreement (Article 6), Sustainable Development Goal 14, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the High Seas Treaty of 2023.
- Institutions like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can establish dedicated funds for climate adaptation and marine conservation projects.
- Additionally, private sector contributions through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks can play a pivotal role.
