TOKYO - Island nations agreed Thursday to establish a support fund for maritime conservation efforts as part of an action plan unveiled at the conclusion of a two-day conference in Tokyo.
At the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit, participants shared concerns that the marine environment is facing a compounding crisis driven by climate change, stalled international discussions, and a shortage of experts.
Agreeing that concrete action is urgently needed, they positioned the conference as a new framework for international cooperation to address such challenges.
The fund will be jointly established by the Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest philanthropic foundation, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, both of which hosted the event.
The foundation will contribute $100 million over 10 years for the action plan, its honorary chairman, Yohei Sasakawa, said.
The action plan also called for training personnel in island nations and establishing a hub in Tokyo to consolidate data on sea level rise and seabed topography.
The conference brought together around 300 representatives from over 30 island nations, including those in the Pacific and Indian oceans and the Caribbean Sea.
