By Jessica Robbins | Islands Communications Manager
This week, the President of Palau and Co-Chair of our Global Island Partnership, H.E. Tommy Remengesau Jr. was named Champion of the Earth for policy leadership by the United Nations Environment Programme thanks for his visionary leadership. Palau is showing the way to protect its invaluable natural resources while balancing the needs and traditions of its people. Earlier this year the President announced the world’s first Nation-wide Marine Sanctuary that fully protects over 80% of Palau’s 600,000sq.km Exclusive Economic Zone. The Sanctuary bans industrial and foreign fishing as well as exports while establishing a local fishing zone for domestic use. This is a bold step to reverse degradation of the ocean and stands to ignite further global action on oceans.
The President stated, “As a fishermen, I have seen first hand the devastating impacts of overfishing, climate change and pollution on our oceans. As the leader of an island country, I know we have the solutions to tackle these issues. We need to stand together to take action now to protect our oceans and our Mother Earth for our generation and future children.”
The President has spearheaded a range of local to global initiatives from the world’s first shark sanctuary to establishing the Global Island Partnership alongside President Michel of Seychelles to has inspired more than 30 leaders to launch major sustainable island commitments. Help GLISPA continue to inspire leaders around the world to launch major commitments to save our oceans and our island Earth.
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