MEDIA RELEASE UNOC3 Conservation, development of oceans don’t conflict, Nauru says_17Jun2025
REPUBLIC
OF NAURU
Government
Information Office
MEDIA
RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Conservation and
development of oceans don't conflict, Nauru tells UN
conference
The Government of Nauru has told the
recent 2025 UN Ocean Conference that the nation "cannot continue
business as usual", with the country's minister for climate change
and national resilience Asterio Appi asking delegates to deliver an
ocean revolution - "one that delivers action, not just
declarations".
Mr Appi said Nauru supports the UN
sustainable development develop goal #14 (SDG14), which is to
"Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
for sustainable development", emphasising that the ocean was
central to Nauru's identity and future.
"It is our mother, provider, and
protector," he said.
However, he also spoke of Nauru's
financial needs, and pointed to the UN's Multidimensional
Vulnerability Index (MVI), which ranks Nauru the fifth most
vulnerable nation in the world to external shocks like climate
change, economic instability, and natural disasters.
"To effectively address these issues,
ocean finance initiatives must integrate the MVI to ensure
financing reaches those who need it most," Minister Appi
said.
With the Oceans conference just days
after Nauru's recent signing of a revised sponsorship agreement
with deep sea mining company TMC, Mr Appi said there was no
conflict between ocean conservation and ocean financing if done
correctly.
"Nauru has long advocated for
comprehensive exploitation regulations at the International Seabed
Authority (ISA) that include essential environmental protections,"
he said.
"Our efforts have produced significant
scientific data to support responsible recovery practices and
empower the ISA to make informed decisions, contributing to the UN
Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development."
The minister also pointed out that "to
accelerate a vital technology shift to a clean energy transition,
the world is faced with the dilemma of requiring significant
quantities of critical energy transition metals."
"Nauru considers that the sustainable
use of our oceans must include the responsible recovery and
extraction of these critical energy transition metals to ensure
supply chain security," he explained.
The minister's comments echoed recent
remarks by Nauru's president David Adeang who said that traditional
economic avenues are not available to Nauru and other small island
developing states.
"But rather than look at ourselves as
victims, we must take proactive steps to secure our nation's
future," Mr Adeang said, adding that Nauru's deep sea mining
partnership will not only promote the sustainable use of ocean
resources while preserving the health of marine ecosystems for
future generations, but generate economic growth, improve
livelihoods and create jobs.
Minister Appi's message to the
conference was to remind them that "SDG14 calls for the
conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine
resources for development.
"Ignoring this balance threatens our
survival, as we face climate change challenges without the luxury
of prioritising one aspect of SDG14 over the other.
"We will continue to pursue our goals
for [both] a healthy ocean and the prosperity of future
generations."
ENDS///
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by:
Nauru Government Information Office, Republic of NAURU
Ph: +(674)
557 3009 E: gio.nauru@gmail.com /
www.naurugov.nr