This new declaration can help nations around the world fight the effects of climate change.

At the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, representatives from 56 Commonwealth nations gathered to announce the Apia Ocean Declaration, which will help “protect the ocean in the face of severe climate, pollution and overexploitation,” according to Associated Press.

The 56 Commonwealth nations are mainly small island nations, such as Samoa, Malta and Barbados. They are particularly threatened by rising sea levels, a result of climate change.

In one statement shared by APSamoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa said the declaration must become “a line in the sand” to better protect our oceans and encourage greater responsibility.

The AP reported that the Apia Ocean Declaration will “protect 30% of oceans and restore degraded marine ecosystems by 2030, and immediately finalize the Global Plastics Treaty. It also calls for ratification of the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty, development of coastal climate adaptation plans, and strengthen support for sustainable blue economies.”

The declaration draws inspiration from already existing initiatives, such as 30×30 and the Global Plastics Treaty.

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The 30×30 target was set by nations aiming to conserve 30% of their land and seas by 2030 – a great first step towards preserving our planet. The Global Plastics Treaty is a global initiative to set stricter standards for plastic quality and production. Another recent treaty by the Group of Seven – the US, UK, Canada, Italy, France, Germany and Japan – aims to phase out carbon-polluting coal-fired power plants by 2035.

Declarations and treaties like these tackle big problems for our planetsuch as rising sea levels and deforestation, millions of tons of plastic in landfills and waterways, and uncontrolled global warming emissions.

Members of the Commonwealth of Nations celebrated their collective efforts towards conservation and have more planet-saving plans in mind.

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Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth’s secretary-general, said the declaration “sets the standard for future international meetings, creating momentum for ocean protection as we move towards COP29 in Azerbaijan in November, and next year’s UN Ocean Conference,” according to the AP.

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