Commonwealth nations adopt 1st ocean declaration as former British colonies seek reparatory justice

APIA, Samoa -- Commonwealth countries adopted Saturday their first water declaration during their acme held for nan first clip successful nan Pacific land federation of Samoa arsenic calls from immoderate of Britain’s erstwhile colonies for reparatory justness for nan trans-Atlantic enslaved waste and acquisition grew louder.

The Apia Ocean Declaration was announced during nan closing convention of nan 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, aliases CHOGM, and calls connected each 56 Commonwealth nations to protect nan water successful nan look of terrible climate, contamination and over-exploitation.

More than half nan Commonwealth members are mini countries for illustration Samoa, galore look significant, some moreover existential, threats from rising seas.

While nan biology threat was foreshadowed arsenic a predominant taxable going into nan summit, nan transatlantic enslaved waste and acquisition from Britain’s assemblage history dominated nan sermon done nan opening days.

The Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common focuses connected recognizing maritime boundaries amid sea-level rise, protecting 30% of oceans and restoring degraded marine ecosystems by 2030, and urgently finalizing nan Global Plastics Treaty. It besides calls for ratifying nan high-seas biodiversity treaty, processing coastal ambiance adjustment plans, and strengthening support for sustainable bluish economies.

Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said successful a connection released by her agency that it was fitting for “our first water declaration” to beryllium adopted "in nan Blue Pacific continent fixed ambiance alteration has been recognised arsenic nan azygous top threat to nan information and well-being of our people.”

The Commonwealth represents a 3rd of nan world’s population, and 49 of its 56 countries person a coastline. The statement says 25 of its members are progressively impacted by ambiance change, rising oversea levels, increasing temperatures and expanding water acidity – impacting oversea life, ecosystems and nan communities that dangle upon them.

Mata’afa said nan declaration must go “a statement successful nan sand” for nan world to collectively toggle shape “ocean exploitation into protection and sustainable stewardship.”

Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland said successful a connection they were “immensely proud of this achievement” which "sets nan modular for forthcoming world meetings, generating momentum for water protection arsenic we caput towards COP29 successful Azerbaijan successful November, and adjacent year’s UN Ocean Conference"."

Calls from immoderate of Britain's erstwhile colonies for a reckoning complete its domiciled successful nan trans-Atlantic enslaved waste and acquisition was nan thorniest rumor astatine nan acme and specifically reparatory justice.

King Charles III, who attended his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting arsenic sovereign, said successful his reside connected Friday history couldn't beryllium changed but that he understood “the astir achy aspects of our past proceed to resonate.”

Although he stopped short of mentioning financial reparations, which immoderate leaders astatine nan arena urged, his remarks were seen arsenic an acknowledgment of really powerfully galore felt astir nan rumor successful countries that Britain erstwhile colonized.

Included successful nan 52-point charismatic Leaders Statement connected Saturday was a paragraph that urged a “meaningful, truthful, respectful conversation” to build a adjacent future. The communique besides directed nan Commonwealth secretary-general to prosecute governments and stakeholders successful reparatory justness consultations, pinch a typical attraction connected nan effect connected women and girls.

“(The communique) agrees that this is nan clip for conversation,” said Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer astatine a property convention successful Apia connected Saturday. “But I should beryllium really clear here. In nan 2 days we’ve been here, nary of nan discussions person been astir money. Our position is very, very clear successful narration to that.”

“Let maine first beryllium clear that nan enslaved trade, enslaved practice, was abhorrent, and it’s very important we commencement from there. Abhorrent is nan correct word.”

Earlier Saturday, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, nan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration successful Ghana, was announced arsenic nan incoming Secretary-General of nan Commonwealth.

Botchwey, who has urged financial reparations for nan past enslavement of colonized people, replaces Patricia Scotland of nan United Kingdom who had been successful nan station since 2016.

Antigua and Barbuda was besides announced arsenic nan big for nan adjacent CHOGM successful 2026.

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Smith reported from Newcastle, Australia. Charlotte Graham-McLay contributed from Wellington, New Zealand.