Representing the largest archipelagic country in the world, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on Tuesday warned island states they were facing an “existential danger” amid worsening climate change and sluggish multilateral efforts, urging that they work together to ensure solidarity and to intensify global engagements amid intense divisions.

Sustainable development for the ocean, she said, was paramount to secure long-term economic stability.

The warnings, issued ahead of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum summit scheduled for Wednesday, set the stage for the ministerial-level meeting, where ministers hailing from dozens of countries gather in Bali to mull over what Retno described as a “triple planetary crisis”. This refers to climate change and rising sea levels, marine pollution and biodiversity loss.

Themed Bridging the Waves for the Ocean Future We Want, the Bali summit is expected to produce a leaders’ declaration, which will address a plethora of issues mainly related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, the blue economy and ecotourism, marine and coastal plastic debris and maritime governance.

In her opening speech on Tuesday, Retno marked the event as “both timely and historical”, describing a world rife with divisions and a lack of trust.

“Rivalries, global conflicts and distrust are taking our global cooperation hostage. Vulnerable countries, including small island developing states, will be the first victims,” she said. “The AIS Forum must become a lighthouse that guides our pathway forward to develop inclusive and impactful cooperation and protect our future generations.”

Read also: Blue economy at center of upcoming island states summit

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