by Linda Straker
- Grenada committed to incorporating ambitious international sustainable plans
- Initiatives include integrated coastal zone management policy, Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act, ban on single use plastics and Blue Economy roadmap
- Jerry Enoe, Advisor for the Blue Economy, accompanied the Prime Minister to the conference
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has told the international community that Grenada is committed to preserving its marine heritage and advancing the sustainable development of its exclusive economic zone.
In a high-level segment with the participation of heads of states, he told delegates at the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Greece, that Grenada “made it a priority to continue to incorporate ambitious international sustainable plans as part of our commitment.”
Echoing “the collective voices” of the Caribbean region whose identities are deeply woven into tapestry of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Prime Minister Mitchell reiterated Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s position that there is without a doubt an environmental crisis in the world, but Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are dealing with the consequences. “To some extent we are preaching to the converted because…we are clearly the ones grappling more than ever with the consequences of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution,” he said.
Mitchell said in the face of those challenges, Grenada over the years has implemented many initiatives. “I share for example our integrated coastal zone management policy, our Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act, our ban on single use plastics and our Blue Economy roadmap,” he said.
These initiatives, he said, “are testament to our unwavering commitment to the sustainable utilisation and development of our marine resources” and are also meant to fortify the country’s coastal resilience including concerted efforts in coral restoration and sustainable fisheries management.
Mitchell reaffirmed Grenada’s commitment to multilateralism “in tackling the multiple crises facing our oceans, but as big island states we need the large land countries, creating this crisis to work hand in hand with us to tackle these challenges.”
The 2024 Conference held in Athens, Greece on 16–17 April is described as a milestone event that seeks to mobilise and engage all major stakeholders in our societies for the benefit of present and future generations, with sessions on Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Blue Economies, Climate Change, Maritime Security, Sustainable fisheries, and Marine Protection. Topics discussed included “Greening of the Shipping Sector,” Confronting Plastic Pollution”; “Protection of Marine Biodiversity” and “Effective management of marine protected areas.”
Participants put forward innovative ideas to address the common challenges facing the world. The conference aims to reaffirm the commitment towards a sustainable Blue Economy, balancing economic growth, social cohesion, and the protection of the marine environment while addressing key challenges such as biodiversity loss, unsustainable fishing, marine pollution, especially from plastics, and unsustainable maritime transportation.
Jerry Enoe, Advisor for the Blue Economy, accompanied the Prime Minister to the conference.
