GLISPA @ THE UN OCEAN CONFERENCE
UNOC3, NICE

GLISPA’s objectives at UNOC were to support and engage with our members and partners, and to advocate for island issues, implementation, and solutions. We also aimed to ensure that local action remained central to the conversation on the ocean. Coming at an inflection point for our organisation, UNOC3 presented a critical opportunity to build support, mobilise resources, and catalyse engagement for our new Island Biodiversity Coalition, the SIDS Conservation Trust Fund Community of Practice, and efforts to mainstream conservation.

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

We convened an in-person meeting of GLISPA members, chaired by Ambassador Safiya Sawney, GLISPA Board member and Grenada’s Special Envoy and Ambassador for Climate. This meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to align on priorities for both UNOC and the year ahead.

We thank the GLISPA board members who attended: Celeste Connors, Maina Sage, Karolin Troubetzkoy, Marie-May Jeremie, and our member organizations: Island Conservation, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Niue Ocean Wide, Local2030 Islands Network, Hawaii Green Growth UN Local2030 Hub, Conservatoire du littoral, Environmental Defense Fund, Smithsonian Institution, Rare, Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), and IUCN.

Members shared their priorities for UNOC and explored how as a collective group of organisations and people focussed on islands, we can work to support each other and help advance island issues - both at UNOC and through ongoing implementation efforts.

Discussions focussed on GLISPA's renewed priorities and its evolving role in response to funding challenges. This includes a shift towards a more service-oriented model that leverages GLISPA’s core strengths. The meeting reinforced the important ongoing role GLISPA plays in fostering cross regional integration and advancing implementation and action.

LOCAL ACTION

Local action was at the heart of our engagement. A major highlight was a Local Leaders Roundtable — hosted with Rare, Coastal500, Local2030 Islands Network, and Bloomberg Philanthropies — which focussed on coastal governance, fisheries sustainability and climate resilience Held in five languages (Bahasa Indonesian, French, English, Portuguese and Spanish), the Roundtable emphasised the leadership of local and customary guardians.

One of the key outcomes of the Roundtable was a statement which focussed on:

• Recognising the critical role of local leaders and customary authorities in advancing solutions,
• Integrating and prioritizing effective and collaborative local governance,
• Diversifying long-term financing streams
• Building local capacity, building and fostering collaborative partnerships,
• Facilitating local access to data,
• Prioritising peer to peer learning and exchange and
• Investing in trust-building and enabling risk-taking.

This message was shared to other UNOC side events co-organised with UN Habitat and partners, showcasing local implementation and local solutions.

INCEPTION WORKSHOP: SIDS CONSERVATION TRUST FUND COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

We held our inaugural inception workshop of a new SIDS Conservation Trust Fund Community of Practice, following the soft launch at the CBD COP held in Colombia in October 2024. The session focused on identifying the priority actions, capacity issues and advocacy opportunities. It reaffirmed the crucial role of CTFs in connecting global frameworks to local action and catalyzing the implementation of SDG14 in SIDS.

This inception workshop focussed on the important role of CTFs in connecting global to local particularly with a focus on implementation and local action - this meeting built relationships, strengthened alliances and provided an opportunity for real talk from people who do this work daily.

We were joined by founding member CTFs for this Community of Practice (CoP) - the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, Micronesia Conservation Trust, Niue Ocean Wide Trust, SeyCCAT (Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust). Also in attendance were representatives from WIOMSA, SPC, Asian Development Bank, WWF, Bezos Earth Fund, and the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future. Sincere thanks to Lihla Noori and the Blue Nature Alliance for supporting our desire to convene this group in Nice and for providing facilitation support.

KEYNOTE EVENT: THE OUTSIZED ROLE OF CONSERVATION TRUST FUNDS IN SIDS IN ACCELERATING SDG 14

A key priority of the SIDS-CTF Community of Practice is to provide opportunities for Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) to advocate on the global stage. Emphasis was placed on the value they provide and the support they require to continue to thrive and fulfil their missions. In service of this aim, the internal workshop was paired with an externally facing side event held in the Green Zone of UNOC.

The event cast a spotlight on the innovative role of CTFs in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in mobilizing sustainable finance for ocean conservation and accelerating progress toward SDG 14: Life Below Water. The session featured a dynamic panel of powerhouse speakers from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), Niue Ocean Wide Trust and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) - representative of all the SIDS regions and reflecting the full spectrum of CTF’s scale - from national and regional efforts to those operating across both levels.

Panelists shared powerful reflections and real-world experiences underscoring the essential role CTFs play in enabling long-term, scalable ocean conservation efforts. From de-risking private investments and leveraging innovative financial instruments such as blue bonds and debt for nature swaps, to ensuring sustainable financial flows for marine protected areas, coral reef restoration, and coastal resilience, their contributions offered clarity, inspiration and practical insights.

The session also addressed critical barriers to attracting private sector investment in marine conservation. Panelists brought forward grounded, actionable solutions demonstrating how CTFs are already tackling these challenges. Niue’s experience, for example, showcased the enabling conditions and strategic partnerships needed to launch their Ocean Conservation Commitments. Similarly, the BVI’s efforts in establishing its CTF provided a candid look into the opportunities and challenges of mobilising sustainable finance for conservation and climate resilience.

The session not only illustrated the transformative potential of CTFs but also affirmed the importance of creating more platforms for island voices and leadership to shape global finance and conservation dialogues.

HIGH IMPACT ISLAND INITIATIVES

GLISPA, as a member of the High Level Caribbean Policy Working Group, participated in the global launch of “Actioning Blue: A Caribbean 30x30 Vision and Roadmap for Our Ocean”- a follow-up to the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI) first launched in 2008. The CCI served as a high-level regional call to action on MPAs leading to the protection of over 47,000 km² of ocean across 11 Caribbean nations and the adoption of national targets for 20% nearshore and coastal protection. At UNOC, Caribbean countries and partners officially launched the Actioning Blue Declaration which was endorsed at the 12th OECS Council of Ministers on Environmental Sustainability (COM:ES 12). This initiative also introduced the Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), a new governance platform now led by 18 countries and 9 intergovernmental organizations, with Grenada serving as the inaugural chair of its Steering Group. Both initiatives represent an unprecedented regional commitment to strengthening political will, advancing coordinated ocean governance, and unlocking sustainable financing for marine protection.

For more information please see:

• Press Release

GLISPA co-hosted a closed door Pacific 30x30 dialogue with The Micronesia Conservation Trust. The session brought together Pacific Island country leaders, regional institutions, and global partners to explore pathways for coordination, delivery, and financing of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 3 – known as “30x30.” The dialogue is expected to continue virtually with several follow-up actions planned including efforts to foster stronger connections to the 30x30 initiative (Actioning Blue) in the Caribbean.

Cross section of the attendees

Small islands are on the frontlines of both ocean conservation and climate resilience. From the Mediterranean, to the Atlantic, across the Pacific, and throughout the Indian Ocean, island communities are driving innovation, collaboration and leadership in creating and managing effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These efforts were spotlighted in a dynamic side event that brought together key island networks and local actors—including SMILO, GLISPA, and Island Innovation—to showcase the power of community-driven governance, inclusive conservation models, and cross-regional knowledge exchange. Through engaging dialogue and shared experiences, it underscored how small islands act as living laboratories and guardians of marine biodiversity, inspiring global action towards a more sustainable and resilient ocean.

The event set the stage for the official launch of a UNOC declaration by the Small Islands Alliance, a collective which seeks to affirm the crucial role played by small islands territories of less than 150 km2 in the creation of effectively managed protected areas in the world. Endorsed by over 25 international, regional and local organisations, the declaration advocates for international support, the integration of traditional knowledge, and community-led initiatives in protected areas management. This focus extends to any islands, regardless of their administrative status, in any ocean.

For more information please see:

• Full Declaration: Contact secretariat@smilo-program.org to find out more on how you can get involved and support the efforts of the Alliance.

The session spotlighted how SIDS are leading ocean-centric climate action—through UNDP’s strategic plan and large-scale initiatives like the Blue & Green Islands Programme—to build resilience, improve food security, and drive sustainable development via the sea.

For more information please see:

• Video of the Session

GLISPA is pleased to celebrate the formalization of an exciting new chapter in our collaboration, as long-time partner the Pacific Community (SPC), officially joins the Local2030 Islands Network (L2030) through a signed MOU. This marks a key moment of enhanced engagement with L2030, strengthening the island-led movement toward sustainable development and climate resilience.

With the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT)—our fiscal host—signing on our behalf, this partnership commits SPC and the Network to work jointly on several strategic fronts including information sharing and amplification; SDG data sharing and collaboration; meetings, conferences, and co-convenings; and technical assistance and capacity building.

As a partnership, GLISPA succeeds because of its members. We celebrate their enthusiasm and commitment .

We are proud to facilitate and amplify their efforts, and we look forward to continuing this momentum.