The Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme was announced by the British Prime Minister in 2015 and subsequently launched in 2016.
This UK government programme aims to support the marine economies (also refered to as blue economies) of 17 Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It aims to support them in identifying the potential of, and developing, their marine economies in a sustainable, resilient, and integrated way.
The programme promotes growth, innovation, jobs and investment, whilst safeguarding healthy seas and ecosystems. In partnership with the SIDS, the programme will develop and implement national Maritime Economy Plans to ensure the programme leaves a lasting legacy.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in April 2018, 53 countries agreed a landmark Commonwealth Blue Charter. The charter sets out how member states will lead international efforts to sustainably develop and protect our ocean. The CME Programme is an integral part of the UK’s effort to protect the health of the world’s oceans and promote the growth of blue economies.
The programme supports CME SIDS by building the capacity of the islands to manage their marine resources and develop their national maritime economies. It is also helping to address climate change, including the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development) and the Paris Climate Change Accord.
The CME Programme ensures that activities and initiatives across nations and regions are harmonised to avoidoverlaps, and recognise synergies. This aligns with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) work to bring together all of the government’s international oceans work under a single strategy as announced by the Foreign Secretary in June 2018.
From April 2018, the CME Programme forms part of the Cross-Government 18-20 Commonwealth Fun | 