Bula Vinaka Excellencies,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen Member States of the Pacific Islands Forum with presence here at the United Nations, namely; Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and my own country, Fiji.

2. We would like to express our thanks to the Permanent Mission of Vietnam for convening this Arria-formula meeting on this very important topic.  Indeed, the relationship between climate change-related sea-level rise and its possible legal effects are of fundamental importance to our region. 

3. As large oceanic States within a Blue Pacific Continent, Pacific countries have a profound connection to and reliance on the ocean, which is at the heart of our geography, cultures and economies. Our past, present and future development is based on rights and entitlements guaranteed under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

4. Our Leaders are in firm agreement that climate change is the single greatest threat facing Pacific Island Countries.  Sea-level rise has been further and alarmingly confirmed as a real and pressing issue by the recent IPCC Working Group I report, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, which is the first instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report.

5. The Pacific Islands Forum has sought to develop a solution that both preserves maritime zones in the face of climate change-related sea-level rise and upholds the integrity of, and our long-standing commitment to, UNCLOS as the global legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

6. On 6 August 2021, we marked our 50th Anniversary as the Pacific Islands Forum with our Leaders’ endorsement of the Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the face of Climate Change-related Sea-level rise, signalling deep mutual commitment and a strong and decisive step to safeguard the homes and interests of the Pacific peoples, and maintain peace and security.

7. The Declaration is intended as a formal statement of Forum Members’ view on how the UNCLOS rules on maritime zones apply in the situation of climate change-related sea-level rise.

Excellencies,

8. Sea-level rise related to climate change is a real and pressing issue which raises complex and interacting development and security concerns for our region.  While it is of fundamental importance to Pacific Forum Members, we recognise that other countries, including small island developing States and low-lying States, similarly require stability, security, certainty and predictability of maritime zones. 

9.  We offer our Declaration as a considered, moderate and targeted solution to the issue of sea-level rise and its possible legal effects on maritime zones through a good faith interpretation of UNCLOS.  We strongly appeal for all UN Member states and the international community to acknowledge the critical importance of this issue to small island developing States and low lying States and to support the Declaration.

I thank you.