Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Oceans

Ocean Conference Side Event: Ocean partnerships and science-based solutions for strengthening sustainable ocean economies in SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 19:22:00 +0000

Tuesday, 28 June 2022 - 5:30pm

Venue: Committee Room, Altice Arena

Background

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) depend heavily on ocean-based industries and are subsequently highly exposed to the consequences of ocean degradation.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and amplified the vulnerability of SIDS and LDCs, resulting in a new array of challenges. Both groups could develop their resilience through economic diversification and the development of their ocean resources.

Given they play a key role in the sustainable management of ocean and coastal resources, SIDS and LDCs are also priority partners in the �山��Ocean Decade. And although Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) do not have direct access to the sea, they can also derive benefits from use of the ocean space and resources under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Ocean Conference

The 2022 �山��Ocean Conference, co-hosted by Kenya and Portugal, comes as the world is strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive solutions to realise the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The Conference will propel science-based, innovative solutions to start a new chapter of global ocean action.

Objective

This side event will explore challenges, opportunities and best practices in ocean science (and) the role of partnerships to build resilience in the ocean economy in SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs in line with the SIDS Partnerships Agenda, the SAMOA Pathway, the Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs, and the Vienna Programme of Action for the LLDCs.

Programme

Moderator: H.E. Ms. Ana Paula Zacarias, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN

Keynote Address: Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Kingdom of Tonga

Fire-side chat

H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa'olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the UN   
H.E. Walton A Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the �山��and Chair of AOSIS
H.E. Mr Kennedy Gastorn, Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the UN
H.E. Mr. Garen Nazaryan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Portuguese Republic
Mr. Michael W. Lodge, Secretary General, International Seabed Authority (ISA)  
Mr. Ignasi Ferrer, President, CEO of Seastainability Ventures and Senior Executive at World Ocean Council

Interactive Segment

Closing: Mr. Sandagdorj Erdenebileg, Chief, Policy Coordination, Development, Monitoring and Reporting Service, �山��Office for Most Vulnerable States (OHRLLS)

tags:

SIDS

LDCs

Oceans

Categories:

Events

Business Network Explores Ocean Energy Partnerships for Small Island Developing States

HSASS — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:31:00 +0000

34971995566_c67d4ee269_k.jpg

NEW YORK/ABU DHABI- 30 & 31 March 2021 - The SIDS Global Business Network (GBN) Forum, an initiative of the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), took place virtually from 30-31 March 2021.

Organised jointly with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the forum focused on private sector collaboration on sustainable energy and oceans in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In opening remarks by the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, she stressed that SIDS continue to incur high electricity costs given their heavy reliance on fossil fuels and that ocean energy presents a major opportunity towards fostering a sustainable blue economy for island nations.

Ocean energy presents key opportunities for SIDS including the decarbonisation of the power sector, water desalination, aquaculture, shipping and cooling. According to IRENA’s recently published report Innovation Outlook: Ocean Energy Technologies, ocean energy in the form of tidal stream and wave energy are picking up at an increasingly rapid pace. IRENA estimates that around 10 GW of ocean energy capacity could be commercially deployed by 2030.

Several SIDS are already in the process of exploring and/or implementing initiatives on ocean energy ranging from offshore wind to solar, tidal and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). While some of these initiatives are at nascent stages, discussions at the Forum focused on amplifying innovation, capacity building, knowledge and technology transfer that will support SIDS in overcoming the challenges associated with the development of sustainable ocean energy.

Despite the growing potential of ocean energy, major challenges remain for SIDS. In particular, funding is needed to move from proven concepts to commercial or public power generation. The investment and capacity building needs of SIDS will also need greater engagement and support from the private sector and international development banks.

To address financing gaps, the Forum discussed possible paths including innovative financing mechanisms to encourage private sector and public investment in ocean energy technologies with the assistance of development partners already keen to support such initiatives like the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

In his closing remarks, the President and CEO of the World Ocean Council, Mr Paul Holthus, highlighted that sufficient data, appropriate policies and enabling frameworks, climate resilient ocean energy infrastructure and affordable technologies as well as enhanced financial viability of projects will remain crucial for the successful development and use of ocean energy for SIDS.

Ends/

Notes:

Mechanisms like the SIDS-GBN, SIDS Lighthouses Initiative the SIDS Partnership Framework and IRENA’s Collaborative Framework Ocean Energy & Offshore Renewables aim to share information on ocean energy and innovations to support SIDS in transitioning to a sustainable energy future in addition to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. They help in contributing to key milestone processes like the Second �山��Ocean Conference to be held in 2022 and the work of the �山��Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

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Building Blue Economy Partnerships and Pandemic Recovery in Small Island Developing States

HSASS — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 05:01:00 +0000

fololina_avia_received_help_through_the_small_business_development_project_to_expand_her_lady_edwina_fishing_company_and_stall_at_the_apia_fish_market._asian_development_bank.jpg

Fololina Avia received help through the Small Business Development Project to expand her Lady Edwina fishing company and stall at the Apia fish market.

Asian Development Bank

NEW YORK- 11 December 2020 – A virtual webinar on partnership opportunities for sustainable blue economy transition and pandemic recovery in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was organized by the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) in cooperation with the World Ocean Council.

The dialogue focused on how ocean partnerships could be used to integrate our oceans as part of the sustainable blue economy. Oceans play a strategic role as they not only feed the SIDS but also the global community. However, sectors dependent on oceans have been severely impacted with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussants shared their experiences and ongoing projects in the blue economy particularly in sectors like sustainable tourism, aquaculture and renewable energy.

In her opening remarks, the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, stressed that ocean business partnerships are important as part of the sustainable development path of SIDS as laid out in the SAMOA Pathway. This is because SIDS are bearing the adverse impacts of overfishing, pollution and climate change which has further been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, SIDS are experiencing a drastic fall in revenues from sectors like tourism and fisheries which is consequently affecting the livelihoods of their populations.

There was a common agreement that ocean business partnerships are crucial and should include governments, financial institutions as well as the private sector. The SIDS Partnership Framework and the UN-OHRLLS SIDS Global Business Network (GBN) were cited as important examples of platforms that encourage private sector participation in the ocean sector.

The SIDS GBN focuses on several thematic areas like disaster risk reduction, fisheries and marine resources, renewable energy and sustainable tourism. The SIDS GBN Forum will tentatively take place at the Our Ocean Conference in Palau in 2021, with webinars and events to foster partnerships for SIDS leading up to the Forum. The first webinar will focus on Ocean Energy and be organized together with IRENA in the first quarter of 2021.

A panel discussion during the dialogue discussed a number of existing projects already being undertaken across SIDS as part of the transition towards the sustainable blue economy and it included desalination projects in Cabo Verde, promotion of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean region as well as renewable energy projects like the production of electricity from tidal waves. Aquaculture was also deemed as another promising sector for SIDS particularly the cultivation of seaweeds which contributes towards ocean sustainability.

Participants also widely acknowledged that since ocean use is growing at a very fast pace, the challenges facing the blue economy are cross-cutting across various sectors like shipping, aquaculture and tourism. These challenges include (i) conservation of marine biodiversity, (ii) ensuring food security, (iii) reduction in anthropogenic impacts as well as (iv) addressing climate change and disaster risk reduction.

The takeaways from the meeting included the need to form partnerships and share knowledge across islands as they face similar challenges regarding the ocean economy. It was also considered crucial to involve all stakeholders namely the government, private sector, academia as well as NGOs in ocean partnerships. The forthcoming 2nd �山��Oceans Conference and the launch of the �山��Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development were also welcomed as important milestones in advancing partnership opportunities in the blue economy.

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