By ORCHY REX
UPNG JOURNALISM STUDENT
FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko says Ocean Sustainability is vital for the future generation as it is an integral part of nation’s building.
He said PNG will therefore work together with all the island nations in the Pacific Region to maintain and sustain its reefs and oceans.
Minister Tkatchenko made this remark after returning from the 4th Archipelagic Islands State (AIS) Ministerial Summit in Bali, Indonesia last Tuesday.
He said the meeting was held to address the importance of ocean and its sustainability among 19 other pacific island states.
The theme of the meeting was to ‘elevate collaboration to achieve sustainable and healthy oceans’.
“Oceans and islands are an integral part of our countries, our economies, our cultural heritage and environment. Oceans play an important role and PNG supports the theme of the meeting,” Tkatchenko said.
“Oceans produce more oxygen and take in more carbon dioxide than most of the rain forests throughout the world.
The oceans are like a big filter and when they are polluted or not looked after properly, it affects the world’s climate;” he said.
“We look forward through this summit for all the island countries in the world coming together to have an understanding and an agreement in the way we look after our oceans in the world.”
He said the summit was all about governments working together, taking leadership and putting in place laws, regulations and new ideas to help protect the ocean from continually being polluted and to be looked after in the long term.
Minister Tkatchenko added that while PNG supports the initiative to protect oceans, the political will at the highest level was paramount in addressing these climate change issues.
“For greater cooperation, partnership and synergizing of resources for research and development, our leaders must support the call to address climate change and ocean pollution issues.”
Minister Tkatchenko added that many options and alternatives were discussed during the meeting on how to use the oceans in a more environmentally, friendly and sustainable way.
A total of 19 island states that attended the summit officially signed communique for all countries to work together in cutting down ocean pollution.
