Antananarivo, Aug 27 (Swara) – The 11th Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention, held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on August 22, 2024, concluded with the adoption of a series of critical decisions aimed at advancing the protection, management, and sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.
The conference underscored the collective responsibility of the Contracting Parties to address emerging environmental challenges, particularly climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the approval of the Integrated Regional Programme for 2025-2035, which will serve as the overarching framework guiding the Nairobi Convention’s efforts over the next decade. The programme is designed to address the region’s most pressing environmental issues, including the sustainable utilization of ocean resources, marine spatial planning, and ocean governance. In conjunction with this, the conference also endorsed the Programme of Work for 2025-2028, emphasizing the need for continued financial and technical support from regional and international partners to ensure successful implementation.
The conference also adopted a series of decisions focused on specific environmental challenges. Decision CP11/4 addresses the growing concern of plastic pollution in the coastal and marine environments, urging Contracting Parties to actively participate in the ongoing international negotiations to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The Secretariat was tasked with supporting these efforts, including revising the Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter and strengthening regional collaborations on plastic pollution research.
Decision CP11/5 called on Contracting Parties to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in line with global biodiversity goals by aligning national policies and laws with the framework. With the support of partners, the Secretariat was requested to strengthen the Parties’ capacity to meet their biodiversity commitments, particularly the 30 by 30 target, which aims to protect 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas by 2030.
Another significant decision, CP11/6, focused on adopting the Regional Ocean Governance Strategy. It urged Contracting Parties to align their national policies with this strategy to enhance transboundary cooperation and sustainable ocean management. The Secretariat was also tasked with developing a long-term financing mechanism to ensure the strategy’s sustainable implementation.
The conference further emphasized the importance of science-based policy-making through Decision CP11/8, which called for a more robust integration of scientific research into policy decisions. The Secretariat was directed to continue organizing regional and national science-policy dialogues to support evidence-based decision-making for improved ocean governance.
In response to the growing threat of climate change, Decision CP11/10 urged operationalising the Western Indian Ocean Regional Climate Change Strategy at regional and national levels. The decision highlighted the need to develop blue carbon projects and other climate finance mechanisms to enhance the resilience of local communities.
The conference also recognized the importance of conserving critical habitats and species in the WIO region. Decision CP11/11 called for strengthening measures to protect, restore, and sustainably manage blue carbon ecosystems, such as seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes. It also urged the protection of highly threatened species, including sharks, rays, sea birds, dugongs, and marine turtles.
To address the environmental impacts of large infrastructure projects, Decision CP11/15 urged Contracting Parties to collaborate in mitigating potential transboundary impacts. The Secretariat was requested to assist in conducting studies and assessments to inform policy decisions on such projects.
Finally, the conference stressed the importance of partnerships and collaborations to advance the Nairobi Convention’s objectives. Decision CP11/16 encouraged Contracting Parties to partner with various stakeholders, including regional organisations, international agencies, and research institutions, to leverage opportunities under climate change and biodiversity financial mechanisms.
In conclusion, the 11th Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention marked a significant step forward in regional cooperation to protect and sustain the Western Indian Ocean’s marine and coastal environment. The decisions adopted at the meeting reflect a firm commitment from the Contracting Parties to address the region’s environmental challenges through collaborative action supported by robust policy frameworks, scientific research, and strategic partnerships.
