Small Island Developing States Leaders Urge the World to Put the Ocean at the Heart of  Climate Action

TUESDAY JUNE 3, 2025 - NEW YORK: With just days to go before the Third United Nations Ocean  Conference (UNOC3), the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is calling on world leaders to  recognize the ocean as a central pillar of climate action in the lead-up to COP30.

This appeal comes at a critical juncture. Ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, island  nations continue to shoulder the consequences of a world slow to act. As countries prepare their  next round of climate commitments (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs), AOSIS is urging  the international community to place the ocean at the heart of this decisive decade for climate  action.

“We call on all people - as stewards of the global commons - to rise to this moment. Put the ocean at the  center of climate action this year,” said President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau, current Chair of the  Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). “We urge all nations - especially major economies — to align with  the 1.5°C target by submitting enhanced, science-based national climate plans in the lead-up to COP30.  These plans are essential to safeguard ocean health, build resilience, and invest in clean technologies that  can drive the ocean economy forward.”

“The ocean sustains our economies, shapes our cultures, and nourishes our communities. As stewards of  nearly 30% of its vast expanse, we embrace both a profound privilege and a solemn responsibility - a duty  shared by all nations that see the sea as part of their heritage and their future. In the spirit of mutirão, we  are committed to doing our part. But are others equally committed to doing theirs?” he added.

AOSIS invokes the Brazilian concept of mutirão - collective action for the common good - that’s been  unveiled by the COP30 Presidency. They call on the international community to meet this moment  with the ambition it demands.

AOSIS outlines six urgent priorities to guide international climate action: • Center the Ocean in Global Climate Policy. Strong, ocean-inclusive NDCs must be a priority in the  lead-up to COP30, recognizing the power of ocean-based solutions.

• Support a Just, Equitable Energy Transition. Cutting reliance on high-emission energy is vital to  protecting marine and coastal systems. AOSIS calls for global cooperation to speed the shift to  sustainable energy, rooted in equity, science, and historical responsibility.

• Adopt a Robust Global Plastics Treaty. AOSIS urges support for a legally binding treaty that includes  a remediation fund tailored to the needs of vulnerable island nations, especially in areas beyond  national jurisdiction.

• Protect the High Seas. Ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement to safeguard marine biodiversity  in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

• Mobilize Sustainable Ocean Finance. Unlock climate finance through debt relief, new financial  flows, and full funding of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) - currently the least  funded of all sustainable development goals (SDGs).

• Recognize the Special Circumstances of Small Island States. Ensure that treaties, funding  mechanisms, and global processes account for the unique vulnerabilities and leadership of SIDS.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, will take  place in Nice from June 9–13, 2025. The conference aims to accelerate global action on Sustainable  Development Goal 14 (SDG14): to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas, and marine  resources. Taking place ahead of COP30, UNOC3 comes at a pivotal moment as countries prepare  their next round of climate commitments (NDCs), with growing momentum to embed ocean-based  solutions into global climate action.

About AOSIS:

Since 1990, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) has represented the interests of the 39 small  island and low-lying coastal developing states in international negotiations on climate change,  sustainable development, and oceans. As a voice for the vulnerable, AOSIS is key to ensuring that  the United Nations' mandate to “leave no one behind” is honored. On the global stage, AOSIS often  punches far above its weight, negotiating historic global commitments to cut greenhouse gas  emissions, among other achievements.

Media Contact:

Marie-France Watson, marie-france.watson@aosis.org, +1 3456-558-3625