In addition to the President’s address to the General Assembly, the FSM was proactively engaged in several key high-level events and meetings, including the Summit of the Future, the first ever High-Level Meeting on Sea Level Rise and the Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among others.

Secretary Elina Akinaga Addresses Multi-Stakeholder Panel on Sea-Level Rise and Its Legal Dimensions:

The Honorable Elina Akinaga, Secretary of the Department of Resources & Development, delivered a statement during the Multi-Stakeholder Panel Discussion on Sea-Level Rise and its Legal Dimensions, held on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In her address, Secretary Akinaga reaffirmed FSM’s strong support for the ongoing work of the International Law Commission (ILC) on the legal implications of sea-level rise. She highlighted the significant contributions of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in advancing normative declarations on the issues of maritime zones, statehood, and sovereignty.

Secretary Akinaga also emphasized the urgent challenges posed by the climate emergency in the Blue Pacific Continent, asserting that sea-level rise does not diminish FSM’s maritime zones or compromise its sovereignty under international law. “It is profoundly unjust to assert otherwise,” she stated, pointing to the minimal contribution of small island developing states like FSM to the climate crisis.

Lastly, she underscored the need for the international community to take responsibility for addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise, particularly to individuals, coastal ecosystems, and socio-cultural practices. Despite these risks, Secretary Akinaga affirmed FSM’s confidence in the robust protections offered by international law concerning its maritime rights, statehood, and sovereignty.