APIA, Samoa – In a landmark decision for Pacific Island nations threatened by rising seas, Commonwealth leaders agreed on Saturday to preserve the maritime boundaries of small island states, even if these territories are submerged due to climate change.
The 56-member group, with roots in the British Empire, issued its first Ocean Declaration at the end of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, affirming that members’ maritime zones, as defined by the law of the sea, should remain intact regardless of physical changes linked to sea-level rise.
This decision enables at-risk atoll nations, like Tuvalu, to retain their maritime boundaries and the economic rights to resources, such as vast fishing grounds, even if populations are forced to relocate due to land loss. The declaration supports Tuvalu’s ongoing campaign for statehood preservation, with the U.N. International Law Commission also recently backing the continuation of state rights despite rising sea levels.
Pacific leaders celebrated the agreement as a major victory in the fight for climate justice. “This declaration offers real hope to communities watching their homes vanish into the ocean,” said Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the initiative reflects the urgent security needs of the region most impacted by climate change.
Of the Commonwealth members, 49 possess coastlines, and 25 are classified as small island developing states, highlighting the widespread impact of this commitment across the organization. The Ocean Declaration stands as a significant advancement in global climate advocacy, underscoring the need to protect the sovereignty and livelihoods of nations on the climate front lines.