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If Albanese is serious about a Pacific COP, he must heed the region’s call on oceans.
The next few months will see a flurry of climate diplomacy involving the Pacific Islands. Later this week, regional leaders are heading to Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum, with this year’s meeting expected to put ocean protection at the forefront. In early October, the world will travel to Fiji and Tuvalu for the pre-COP meeting; in November, Australia will preside over COP31 in Antalya, Turkiye.
Between now and then, Australia has a rare opportunity: to use its COP31 presidency and the new High Seas Treaty to help create connected protection across the Pacific and the high seas.
The idea behind this connection are the Blue Corridors, the migratory pathways used by whales, sharks and other marine species as they travel thousands of kilometers across multiple jurisdictions. To better protect these dynamic habitats, governments must connect networks of marine protected areas across borders and the high seas, while reducing the growing risks species face along their journey.
