Climate change is threatening the economies of Pacific island nations. This is because rising sea surface temperatures are causing tuna to move into international waters outside their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The decrease in tuna catch directly impacts the income of these countries.
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 19th (local time), the 'Green Climate Fund' will provide $10.7 million (approximately 1.554 billion won) to Pacific island countries to help them adapt to the situation where tuna is leaving their waters due to climate change. The Green Climate Fund, headquartered in South Korea, is a UN (United Nations) agency established to support developed countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and responding to climate change in developing countries.
The beneficiaries are 14 Pacific countries, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, and Papua New Guinea, and the funding will be used to establish an early warning system for tracking changes in tuna movement. Additionally, compensation measures using the funding are being considered if tuna leave the EEZs of these countries due to rising sea temperatures. This support is the largest single project grant in the history of the Green Climate Fund.
Jack Keatinger, senior vice president of Conservation International, which provided the scientific basis regarding tuna to the Green Climate Fund, noted, "These countries have contributed minimally to the climate crisis while managing marine resources exceptionally, yet they are at risk of losing critical resources," adding, "This is indeed a matter of ultimate climate justice." 'Climate justice' refers to rectifying the inequalities and polarization caused by the climate crisis fairly.
The 14 Pacific island nations generate a significant portion of their income by issuing fishing licenses to tuna vessels and collecting fees. In some countries, tuna-related income accounts for up to 80% of total revenue. These nations account for about one-third of global tuna catch. The yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, and bigeye tuna caught in the EEZs of Pacific island nations are mostly exported to Japan, China, South Korea, and the United States.
As Pacific island nations generate substantial revenue from tuna, they have made efforts to conserve marine resources. A representative example is the 'Nauru Agreement', signed in 1982 by eight Pacific island nations to collectively manage fisheries and share revenue. These nations have regulated purse seine fishing (a method of surrounding and capturing fish with a long rectangle net) and developed a system to prevent overfishing of bluefin tuna through the Nauru Agreement.
However, recently, rising sea surface temperatures have caused tuna schools to move out of the EEZs of 14 countries into international waters. Tuna vessels can now catch large quantities of tuna without paying fees to the Pacific island nations. According to research from Conservation International, the tuna catch in the EEZs of nine Pacific island nations and Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand, is expected to decrease by 20% by 2050, leading to an estimated annual revenue loss of about $90 million (approximately 129.5 billion won) for these countries.
Climate change is also impacting the dietary habits of Pacific island nations. Along with rising sea levels, coral reef fish, which have traditionally been mainly consumed in the Pacific islands, are declining. Accordingly, the Green Climate Fund's support will be used to enable residents of Pacific island nations to increase their tuna consumption. Additionally, plans are being pursued to attract tuna and large fish species using artificial reefs floating in the ocean.
Pacific island nations are concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw a $5 billion (approximately 7.2 trillion won) contribution to the Green Climate Fund. Ludwig Kumoru, Director General of the Pacific Island Countries Fisheries Agency, stated that Pacific island nations need to find solutions to climate change independently, saying, "If we do not pay attention to climate change, we will all perish."