Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority Participates in the AELERT – INECE 2024 Global Summit on Implementing and Enforcing Environmental Law
Representatives from the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) recently attended the AELERT – INECE 2024 Global Summit on Implementing and Enforcing Environmental Law in Brisbane, Australia, from November 6th - 8th. This summit convened leaders and experts from various regulatory fields to discuss advancements in law enforcement and compliance practices.
Policy and Regulatory Oversight Director, Latishia Maui-Mataora and Senior Legal and Policy Officer, Te-Ara Henderson, joined over 370 in-person and 100 virtual participants. Discussions focused on regulatory approaches to climate change, waste management, biodiversity, and natural resource management, along with sessions on Indigenous engagement, health and safety, and the use of technology in enforcement.
While SBMA’s primary focus is seabed mineral resources, participation in this summit provided valuable opportunities to explore adaptable tools and frameworks relevant to SBMA’s regulatory role. "Engaging with international experts allowed us to gain insights that can enhance our practices in stakeholder engagement and compliance," said Mrs. Maui-Mataora.
"AELERT provides an environment where regulatory experts can engage and share ideas to improve on leading regulatory practice. This is a useful resource for the Cook Islands as we develop our legal and compliance framework for deep-sea minerals," said Mr. Henderson.
A significant takeaway from the summit was the emphasis on integrating diverse stakeholder perspectives, as highlighted in sessions on Indigenous contributions to regulatory practices. These insights align with SBMA’s commitment to responsibly managing seabed minerals in the Cook Islands.
Moving forward, SBMA aims to build on these discussions and strengthen ties with regulatory counterparts to explore applicable tools and strategies for seabed mineral management. This summit underscores SBMA’s dedication to staying informed and connected with global regulatory advancements.
View more information on the AELERT – INECE 2024 Global Summit.
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