Commonwealth Blue Charter Launches OA Policy Handbook
On April 27 the Commonwealth Blue Charter launched a new policy handbook to support governments create and implement strategies to tackle ocean acidification, including through the development of OA Action Plans. The handbook was commissioned by the New Zealand government, which champions the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Group on Ocean Acidification.
The publication is an outcome of the first-ever workshop by the Commonwealth Ocean Acidification Action Group, hosted in 2019 by New Zealand. The workshop included discussions among scientific experts and observers, joined by government officials from 17 Commonwealth countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Zealand, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, and Vanuatu.
Together, participants identified strategies to address the impacts of ocean acidification, including marine monitoring, capacity development, ocean literacy, governance, and management.
“We know that ocean acidification has serious consequences for sea life, and this Policymakers’ Handbook for Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification is an important resource.
It is designed for people who make decisions about how we use and protect our oceans. It introduces them to the steps needed to address ocean acidification. It enables them to act as ‘kaitiaki’ or guardians.
Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta
Toitū te marae a Tangaroa
Toitū te tangata.
If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.”
