News and Articles

The Indonesian Government wants the UN to make legally binding agreements that the scope of the Ocean World Conference at its meeting in May in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the newspaper reported today "The Jakarta Post."


"We hope that the UN supports the statement (final) and make it legally binding for all member countries," said Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Freddy Numberi.


"Protecting the oceans, we are saving the lives of all people living in small island states. That is why wealthy nations should contribute to the cause," said the minister, whose country thought to make binding agreements to the industrialized countries will be more willing to finance the fight against climate change.


"We have already lost some small islands by rising oceans," said Numberi.


Indonesia, an archipelago made up of over 17,000 islands, notes with concern the rising seas caused by climate change and its experts estimate that up to 2,000 islands will be gone by 2030 if the ocean level rises 8 and 29 centimeters, as expected.


The Ocean World Conference will be held from May 15 to 11 in Manado, north of Sulawesi, expected attendance of 7,000 delegates, including officials, experts and activists from some 120 countries.