Caribbean Unites For Collective Action on Ocean Governance

NICE, France – Caribbean governments launch the Actioning Blue: Caribbean 30×30 Vision for the Ocean political declaration during a high-level event at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3).

Caribbean delegates at the .launch of the Actioning Blue: Caribbean 30×30 Vision for the Ocean political declaration during the UNOC3 in Nice, France (OECS Photo)In what has been described as a powerful demonstration of political unity and regional ambition, the event marked a historic milestone in advancing marine conservation, governance, and financing across Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean and featured ministers and high-level participants from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) other Caribbean territories and Latin America.

The event was held aboard the Art Explorer vessel at Port Lympia and was co-hosted by the Grenada government, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), the OECS and the Ocean Coordination Mechanism Secretariat/ProCaribe+ Project Unit.

Actioning Blue is a bold Caribbean regional 30×30 Vision and Roadmap for the Ocean and reflects an urgent call by political leaders of the Caribbean to advance collective Caribbean advocacy aligned to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable Development Goal 14.

An OECS statement said that this declaration is a renewed call from the Caribbean, preceded by the 2008 Caribbean Challenge Initiative that advanced the protection of roughly 49,000 km2 of marine protected areas in the region.

The event launched on the opening day of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, aligned with the conference’s ambitious theme. Actioning Blue launches alongside the implementation of the regional OECS 30×30 Transformation Project, currently being delivered under the OECS Council of Ministers of Sustainability framework and with financial support of the SPACES coalition.

“Through coordinated action, technical assistance, and strategic partnerships, the OECS will help ensure that the Caribbean’s marine ecosystems are not only protected but also contribute meaningfully to climate resilience, food security, and the well-being of its people.

“We commit to enhancing inter-governmental cooperation, strengthening institutional capacity, driving policy reform, and promoting science and research platforms that recognize the role of local communities in marine conservation,” the OECS said.

St. Kitts-Nevis Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment,  Dr. Joyelle Clarke, said “this is a moment worth celebrating, as it is evidence of what we can achieve through collaboration, persistence and the expertise of our people. Caribbean countries are proving that we are not defined by vulnerability—we are defined by our capacity to lead”.

UNOC3, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, brings together global leaders under the theme “Scaling up Ocean Action Based on Science and Innovation for the Implementation of Goal 14.”

With the launch of Actioning Blue and the Ocean Coordination Mechanism, Caribbean countries are strengthening their collective influence in global ocean governance, offering a unified regional approach to help shape international priorities, financing, and cooperation.

“Our strength lies in our unity, and our shared recognition that the triple planetary crises demand a response rooted in regional solidarity and governance that reflects who we are. Let it be known: the Caribbean is not just participating in the global ocean agenda—we are shaping it.”, said Safiya Sawney, the Grenada government Special Envoy and Ambassador for Climate.

The event also highlighted the important work of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), a voluntary, government-led platform with a membership of 19 Wider Caribbean nations and nine intergovernmental organizations.

The OCM is designed to enhance coordination and collaboration for the sustainable development of the blue economy.

The OECS said that the featuring of these two important regional initiatives at UNOC 3 offers an example of the kind of global south collaboration and coordination we need to deliver on ambitious global goals.

The chief executive officer the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), Karen McDonald Gayle, said that the coordinated launch was not a coincidence.

“I am pleased to note the agreement not only in words but in efforts demonstrated through joint events like these that the Caribbean Sea and its ocean needs are front and center – that the waters are bridging the gaps and breaking the silos.

“So we are working on Marine Management, Governance and financing collectively,”  she added.

The CBF is the regional umbrella environmental fund for the Caribbean, dedicated to sustaining nature and improving lives across the region. By designing and managing innovative financing solutions, the CBF helps countries access long-term resources to protect biodiversity, build climate resilience, and promote nature-based economic growth.

The CBF manages three strategic programs that drive impact across the region: Conservation Finance via a regional endowment, Climate Change adaptation focused on Ecosystem-based Approaches (EbA), and Nature-based Economies that support circular economy models.

These programs actively collaborate with governments, communities, and development partners across the Caribbean to advance shared environmental goals and long-term sustainability.

To date, the Fund has supported more than 100 projects in 12 countries, delivering over US$30 million in funding for impactful, locally led solutions.