With global climate talks freshly concluded last weekend in Katowice, Poland, some Commonwealth countries are already working towards a stronger ocean focus at next year’s negotiations in Chile.
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Ocean focus expected in next round of climate talks
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“Real experiences” are what drove some Commonwealth countries to take up the banner for the ocean, stepping forward to champion action groups of like-minded members working together to tackle some of the world’s most pressing ocean problems.
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Commonwealth ocean action gains traction at COP24
A new Commonwealth paper examines who should be held responsible if deep-sea mining in international waters causes environmental damage.
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New paper considers protection for damage caused by deep-sea mining
Efforts to protect the ocean have received a major boost with the announcement that Seychelles will lead a Commonwealth Blue Charter action group on marine protected areas.
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Seychelles Steps Forward as Commonwealth Champion for Marine Protection
2 December 2018 to 14 December 2018
Event
COP24 provides opportunities for the Commonwealth to advocate on behalf of our member countries, especially for the concerns of small and other vulnerable states who are most threatened by climate change.
Further support for the Commonwealth's vital initiative to protect the world's oceans, seas and lakes will be announced at a side event of the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on 27 November 2018
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New action on oceans to be revealed at Kenya conference
The Government of Seychelles in collaboration with the Commonwealth has launched the ‘Blue Economy Strategic Framework and Roadmap’ to build its ocean-based economy.
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Roadmap to boost Seychelles’ blue ocean economy
Protecting the ocean today is the best way of ensuring prosperity for future generations, says Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. Her remarks came at a session on the Commonwealth Blue Charter on sustainable ocean governance, held on the margins of the 49th Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru, which ran from 3 to 6 September 2018
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Strong partners will deliver on Commonwealth Blue Charter, says Secretary-General
The Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland is in Nauru to meet leaders and other partners this week at the 49th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting.
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Secretary-General to meet Pacific leaders in Nauru
Cradled in the South Pacific, my home country Vanuatu is made mostly of ocean. The Pacific covers 98% of the national jurisdiction. Here, some 280,000 Ni-Vanuatu like myself live simply off the land and sea. We view the ocean as a living ‘bridge’ that connects islands and continents while sustaining life in all its forms.
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If Vanuatu can ban single-use plastics, so can other Commonwealth countries
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has met the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, during her first official visit to the country.
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Secretary-General meets Sri Lankan Prime Minister in Colombo
The Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, says urgent action is needed to save the world's oceans, since the livelihoods of millions of people depend on their preservation and sustainable development.
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Livelihoods of millions depend on healthy oceans and sustainable trade: Secretary-General
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will participate in a high level United Nations forum to find sustainable ways for millions of people to make a living from the world's oceans.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General to participate in second Oceans Forum in Geneva
The Commonwealth’s hub for climate finance celebrated key milestones this week, including the mobilisation of £3.7 million for climate-vulnerable countries, with another £135 million in the pipeline.
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“The Hub” helps vulnerable countries tap crucial climate funds
The Republic of Mauritius will share valuable marine protection know-how with other Commonwealth countries, using the Commonwealth Blue Charter as a platform to exchange best practices, collaborate on research, and carry out training workshops.
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Mauritius expertise to back Commonwealth fight for coral reefs
The president of the Seychelles, Danny Faure, has credited the Commonwealth for propelling his island country forward as an advocate for ocean issues and climate change.
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Seychelles leader commends Commonwealth ocean approach
Malta is allocating the oceanography grants through the Commonwealth Small States Centre of Excellence (CSSCE). They will fund a one-week course in operational oceanography for blue growth.
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Scholarships on offer to Commonwealth member states
International concern for the plight of the global ocean is at an all-time high. In April this year, the 53 countries of the Commonwealth adopted the Commonwealth Blue Charter, creating a bright blue beacon to guide cooperative action on ocean issues.
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World Oceans Day 2018: A Blue Charter for a blue planet
Emerging petroleum producing countries have been urged to carefully consider country context when forming local content policies – or risk long-term drawbacks to the development of the sector.
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New petroleum producers urged to heed ‘local context’ in policy making
In August 2017, Jeff Ardron, Ocean Governance Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, reported on the first High-level Pacific Blue Economy Conference, in Fiji: “The ‘Blue Economy’ is a term that appears to have been invented independently by both Pacific Islanders and the colourful German entrepreneur Günter Pauli.
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Introducing the Commonwealth Blue Charter
Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Commonwealth Secretariat today announced the signing of a multi-year agreement to explore a number of mutually supportive joint initiatives to aid international trade, innovation and sustainability.
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Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Commonwealth Secretariat to explore joint initiatives
Commonwealth leaders today agreed on a bold, co-ordinated push to protect the ocean from the effects of climate change, pollution and over-fishing. Their landmark decision to adopt a Commonwealth Blue Charter will affect one third of the world’s national coastal waters, helping to sustain livelihoods and ecosystems globally.
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Leaders applaud Commonwealth Blue Charter on ocean action
The Commonwealth’s Climate Finance Access Hub (CFAH) is playing a role in the emerging area of Blue Carbon.
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Climate Finance Hub to support blue carbon
Experts in international environmental ocean law met at the Commonwealth headquarters last week to discuss environmental damages liability in relation to seabed mining and mineral exploitation.
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Commonwealth countries at the forefront of deep-sea mining policy
The government of Guyana is set to implement new laws which will enable it to bolster its economy, tackle poverty and meet crucial sustainable development targets.
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Oil set to help Guyana boost economy and benefit its citizens