Cook Islands' Path to Sustainable Seabed Minerals Development at SAFE Summit 2024
Cook Islands demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development and international collaboration.
Prime Minister Mark Brown led a Cook Islands delegation to the SAFE Summit 2024, which took place in Washington, DC from 12th to 13th March, to discuss the sustainable development of the seabed minerals sector. Key officials in the delegation included Alex Herman, Commissioner of Seabed Minerals, Dr. John Parianos, Director of Knowledge Management, and Garth Henderson, Financial Secretary.
The SAFE Summit 2024 brought together leaders from around the world to discuss critical issues such as energy security, climate change, and supply chain resilience. Prime Minister Brown emphasised the Cook Islands' potential as a future supplier of strategic metals required for clean energy technologies, as well as the country's commitment to responsible resource management.
"Prime Minister Brown's attendance at the SAFE Summit demonstrates the Cook Islands' commitment to sustainable development and international collaboration," said a spokesperson for the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority.
During the summit, Prime Minister Brown met with prominent US officials such as Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos Hochstein, and John Podesta, Senior Advisor to President Biden. The discussions centred on building mutual support for the sustainable development of the seabed minerals sector.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown
“The Cook Islands reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection, robust regulatory frameworks, and community engagement in the development of seabed minerals," Brown said in a press release. "We seek to strengthen partnerships with the United States and other stakeholders to ensure the responsible utilisation of our marine resources."
With over two decades of experience in sustainable seabed mineral development, the Cook Islands emphasised key principles that guide its approach, such as environmental stewardship, science-based decision-making, regulatory integrity, innovation, and inclusiveness.
The delegation's participation aimed to raise global awareness of the Cook Islands' seabed mineral potential, strengthen ties with the United States on critical mineral supply chains, and foster collaboration among international stakeholders in the sector.
In addition to the SAFE Summit engagements, Prime Minister Brown and the Cook Islands delegation will consult with development partners to advance the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), which is set to launch in 2025 and aims to strengthen Pacific communities' resilience to climate change and natural disasters.
Source by: Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority