News

PM calls for a 10 year moratorium on deep sea mining

September 25, 2019 1:00 pm

Picture Source: [The Fijian Government]

Fiji is calling on the world to follow its lead in committing to 100 percent sustainable management of our Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made the call while speaking at the High-Level Panel on Sustainable Oceans Economy.

Bainimarama says the committee will include declaring 30 percent of the EEZ as a protected area.

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The Prime Minister also called for a ten year-moratorium on deep-sea mining in the Pacific from 2020 to 2030.

He told the world leaders at the meet that having sustainable oceans is one of Fiji’s top priorities and that having a healthy and functioning ocean is the single most important factor influencing climate change.

Bainimarama also announced that along with Marshall Islands, they are leading a Pacific Island Blue Shipping Initiative.

The initiative is a coalition of seven Pacific countries committed to reducing fossil fuel use by our domestic and regional shipping by 40 percent by 2030 and achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Partnership aims to dramatically upgrade our domestic and regional shipping fleets, ports and fisheries facilities.