TOKYO, JAPAN – June 3, 2026 — Her Excellency President Hilda C. Heine participated in the High-Level Plenary Session on Financing and Investment for Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management (SOPM) at the Island States Ocean Summit.
In her country testimonial, President Heine emphasized the vital role of the ocean in sustaining livelihoods, food security, biodiversity, and economic development, particularly for island nations. She cautioned that accelerating pressures from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss are straining marine ecosystems and the island communities that depend on them.
She noted that current financing remains fragmented and difficult for small island developing states to access and sustain. “We cannot protect what we do not manage, and we cannot manage what we do not finance,” President Heine said, underscoring that investment in ocean management is an investment in resilience, stability, and economic sustainability, not an act of charity.
President Heine welcomed discussions on the proposed Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management Support Platform, while stressing that any mechanism must be country‑driven, demand‑responsive, and aligned with national priorities. She emphasized that support platforms should simplify access to assistance rather than add complexity.
President Heine concluded by urging partners to view the ocean not only as a victim of climate change but as a powerful solution for resilience, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
