At the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change also discussed the role of the oceans and ocean climate change. Rising sea temperatures have caused tremendous damage to marine ecosystems and to the cultures and livelihoods of people living in island countries such as the Pacific island nations. In island nations, including Japan, it may be necessary to reexamine the blessings of the ocean and redefine how we interact with this important existence.

The traditional art of navigation indigenous to Micronesia and the Caroline Islands was inscribed in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2021. This is the only surviving art of navigation on Earth that has been passed down continuously since ancient times. I would like to consider the current state and continuation of this art from the perspective of someone who has been in contact with it for 20 years.

Maritime security has become more complex due to the influence of regional conflicts, and climate change is increasing maritime security risks in various ways, creating a need for new specialized knowledge. Acadia University developed the Professional Certificate in Maritime Security (PCMS) program to educate and train maritime professionals to understand and manage the complex issues and situations facing the maritime security domain.