James Marape has welcomed international leaders arriving in Papua New Guinea for the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Conference, taking place at APEC Haus from May 11 to 14, 2026.
Speaking during a press conference on Sunday, May 10, Prime Minister Marape described the conference as a landmark event that would bring together Pacific nations and international partners to address ocean protection, climate resilience, and sustainable marine management.
He said the conference comes at a crucial time as rising sea levels; ocean warming, pollution and environmental damage continue to threaten island nations and marine ecosystems around the world.
Prime Minister Marape said the summit provides an important platform for Pacific countries to transform regional leadership into practical action.
“Our ocean supports our food security, cultures, economies and resilience against climate change,” he said.
He stressed that protecting marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable livelihoods were essential to ensuring a secure future for coming generations.
The Prime Minister said oceans play a vital role in sustaining life on Earth, contributing to the water cycle, supporting marine ecosystems, storing carbon and producing oxygen.
He also reflected on Earth’s uniqueness, saying water systems such as oceans, rivers and seas distinguish the planet from others in the universe.
“If we destroy our waters and marine ecosystems, we are destroying the planet itself,” Prime Minister Marape stated.
He said Pacific nations should not be viewed simply as small island states, but as custodians of one of the world’s largest and most significant ocean regions.
“We are small in population and landmass, but we are large ocean states through our sovereign waters,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape noted that the Pacific Ocean remains one of the world’s largest carbon sinks and plays a critical role in maintaining global environmental balance.
He said one of the expected outcomes of the conference would be stronger regional commitments to protect at least 30 percent of sovereign ocean spaces from harmful exploitation and environmental destruction.
The Prime Minister also called on industrialized countries and major carbon-emitting nations to work with Pacific countries in conserving oceans and forests.
He highlighted Papua New Guinea’s position within the Coral Triangle, one of the richest marine biodiversity areas in the world.
“Papua New Guinea sits in the heart of one of the world’s most important reef systems,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape welcomed visiting leaders, delegates, development partners and international representatives attending the conference, including José Ramos-Horta.
He also said Papua New Guinea is increasingly becoming a regional destination for international conferences and events because of its strategic location between the Pacific, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia.
Prime Minister Marape encouraged Port Moresby residents to help create a safe and welcoming environment for visitors attending the conference.
He concluded by urging participating countries to use the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Conference to strengthen regional cooperation and global action on ocean conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development for future generations.
