Pacific countries are endowed with optimistic, adaptive, and innovative culture to be able to realize their commitmentManado, N Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan believes that the time has come for archipelagic and island states to realize their commitment for the benefit of their younger generations' future.
"Pacific countries are endowed with optimistic, adaptive, and innovative culture to be able to realize their commitment. Now is the time for them to transform the commitment into action to create the best future for their younger generations," he stated while closing the meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi Province, on Friday.
Several natural disasters, including forest fires, typhoons, droughts, and marine pollution, result from human activities for which immediate joint preventive efforts are necessary to thwart them, he noted in a press statement made available to Antara.
"Since most of (the AIS Forum) member countries are island states, preventive steps must be taken soon," he emphasized.
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The AIS Forum member states are not merely tasked with handling the disasters but also addressing poverty since most of their citizens yet lead impoverished lives. Hence, unleashing smart innovations and solutions in their mitigation and adaptation programs becomes the dire need of the hour, he remarked.
The innovation can be emulated in tune with the context of each nation, he stated.
Indonesia is willing to contribute to the creation of a trust fund focused on financing climate change mitigation projects at the forum, he noted.
The forum was initiated by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment and supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in November last year.
The forum comprises 41 island states and six archipelagic states from South Pacific, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The forum deals with concrete cooperation prioritizing four areas of collaboration: blue economy, climate change and disaster mitigation, marine pollution caused by plastic waste, and good ocean and maritime governance.
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Translator: Karel Alexander Polakitan/Suha
Editor: Sri Haryati
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