The Nippon Foundation, in collaboration with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), has announced the OCEAN STATES INITIATIVE. This new framework aims to assist island nations in addressing ocean-related challenges while promoting sustainable development.
The announcement was made at the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit, held in Tokyo on June 3-4, 2026. The initiative is designed to bolster the capacity of island states to manage their ocean resources sustainably and develop resilient ocean economies.
Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation, emphasized the commitment to investing in human resources, fostering collaboration, and advancing initiatives that drive innovation. The foundation's approach is to ensure that the benefits of ocean resources are preserved for future generations.
Key figures at the summit included Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the IOC of UNESCO, and H.E. Surangel S. Whipps Jr., President of the Republic of Palau. The summit gathered approximately 300 participants, including global leaders, UN agency representatives, and ocean experts, to discuss sustainable ocean management strategies.
The OCEAN STATES INITIATIVE is structured around three main pillars. The first pillar focuses on human resource development, aiming to train professionals from island nations to tackle current and future challenges. The second pillar involves establishing OCEAN HUB, a Tokyo-based center that will coordinate global efforts and promote innovative projects through a consortium of leading institutions.
The third pillar is the development of a Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management Support Platform, in partnership with the IOC of UNESCO. This platform will provide seed funding and encourage contributions to support island states in implementing sustainable ocean management practices.
The initiative is set as a ten-year strategy, with a mid-term review planned at the Second Island States Ocean Summit in 2030-2031. The outcomes of the summit aim to contribute to international policy processes, including the COP17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and COP31 of the UNFCCC.
The Nippon Foundation's long-term vision is to balance ocean conservation with sustainable economic development, ensuring that island states can effectively address the challenges posed by climate change, sea-level rise, and biodiversity loss.