From Commitment to Action: How Niue's Ocean Conservation Commitments are financing long-term ocean protection, climate resilience and sustainable development through a country-led, community-driven approach. Small Island Developing States face a common challenge: securing long-term, predictable finance to protect oceans while supporting resilient communities. Through the Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust, Niue has developed the Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs) - an innovative, country-led conservation finance mechanism that enables individuals, organisations and partners to directly contribute to the long-term protection of the 127,000 km² Moana Mahu Marine Protected Area, while supporting climate resilience and sustainable development across the island. OCC sponsorships do not represent carbon credits or offsets, but rather a transparent mechanism to finance conservation, monitoring, community stewardship and institutional capacity over the long term. This session will share Niue's journey in developing and operationalising the OCCs, lessons learned in establishing the NOW Trust as a conservation trust fund, and how innovative ocean finance can complement national climate action, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The discussion will also explore opportunities for collaboration between governments, philanthropies, civil society and the private sector to strengthen country-led approaches to ocean stewardship and build durable partnerships for the Pacific.

Venue

Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion

Speakers

Honourable Dalton Tagelagi. Prime Minister of Niue, Coral Pasisi, Shiloh Pasisi