Press Release on the Secretary General election, and national position, pertaining to the International Seabed Authority

Government of Kiribati

02 August 2024
Tarawa, Kiribati

Kiribati believes that there is a common sense of purpose for all, when it comes to managing the mineral resources of the seabed for the shared benefit of humankind, the main objective of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

A Pacific Scholar Epeli Hau'ofa has long advocated for this same sentiment by his famous quote; We are the sea, we are the ocean. It implies just as the sea is an open and ever flowing reality, so should our oceanic identity transcend all forms of insularity and challenges.

During the 29th ISA Assembly meeting in Jamaica, Kingston; Kiribati, and other developing countries reiterated on the essence of a principled approach and the international rule-based process to navigate through the challenges but maintain the course for ISA, as enshrined and mandated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Kiribati’s position on our candidate for the International Seabed Authority, the incumbent SG Mr Michael Lodge, is grounded on the core principles of multilateralism, alignment with Kiribati position on the ISA and our full confidence in the exemplary leadership caliber and experience of Mr Lodge, demonstrated over many years.

To add a Pacific flavor, Mr Lodge has worked in Kiribati, the Pacific region and internationally which is a testament of his strong connections with and commitment to the aspirations of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and developing countries more broadly. Therefore, when it comes to recognizing and sympathising with the special circumstances of developing countries and the issues they face, it will be Michael Lodge.

The Pacific region is now championing two significant sides of the sustainable use of the ocean resources principle; one that advocates for precautionary pause and the other on sustainable use of the ocean mineral resources.

This is a positive sign that the Pacific region is influencing the international system at the ISA on this agenda, and their voices are being heard loud and clear.

The principle of sustainable use of ocean resources, has also been consistently demonstrated by the pioneering efforts of the Pacific Island Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) when they advocated for the inclusion of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Oceans, now SDG14.

In 2022, during the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Fiji, the 2050 Strategy for Blue Pacific Continent was endorsed. The regional strategy clearly highlights the collective need to ensure a future for our people through sustainable use of ocean resources and to protect our ocean.

The above narrative clearly underpins the meaning of Kiribati’s engagement in the agenda of sustainable use of the ocean resources, at the multilateral process and at the ISA. The precautionary pause to the possible mineral-related operation is inseparable from the principle of sustainable use of ocean resources.

As a member state party to UNCLOS, Kiribati is exercising its sovereign rights to participate in the governance, sustainable development, and management of deep-sea mineral activities in the Area, as affirmed by Articles 140 (equitable benefit sharing), 143 (marine scientific research), 148 (participation of developing states in activities in the area), 153 (exploration rights in the area) and 192 (environmental protection) of the Convention.

Overall Kiribati advocates for the sustainable use of ocean resources as opposed to destructive deep-sea operations for economic gains.

Our message is simple: we need the ocean for our prosperity but yes, we must also take care of it, because we are the ocean.