PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Press Release
ENV/DEV/354
PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
19960424 Small island developing States should give high priority to sustainable development policies predicated on external commercial activity and sound macroeconomic policies, the Commission on Sustainable Development was told this morning, as it began discussing progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, which was adopted in Barbados in 1994.The representative of Grenada, Vice-Chairman of the high-level panel on small islands developing States and external trade, said that, while giving such priority, those States should assess the environmental effects of their trade policies and take advantage of local capacities to replace imports, particularly as related to food. The representative of Trinidad and Tobago, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, called for steps to reverse the declining trend in grants and other concessional resources available to small island developing States.
The representative of Papua New Guinea, speaking on behalf of the South Pacific Countries of the United Nations, stressed the need for greater political support by the international community for the efforts of Pacific developing countries at the local level. He described those countries as the present and future guardians of the world's remaining oceans and biodiversity.
The representative of India said that the destruction of small island ecosystems impacted upon both the welfare of local peoples and the feasibility of small island economies. In protecting those ecosystems, current scientific knowledge and the traditional wisdom and practices of island peoples should be synthesized.
Statements on the sustainable development of small island states were also made by the representatives of Marshall Islands and Samoa.
Joke Waller-Hunter, Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, presented the reports of the Secretary-General on small island developing States. A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) described small-island activities of his agency.
Sustainable Development Commission - 1a - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
Introducing addenda to the report of the Secretary-General dealing with tourism, telecommunications, natural disaster reduction, air transport, maritime transport and energy were representatives of the International Telecommunications Union, World Meteorological Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Department of Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development.
When it meets again at 3 p.m. today, the Commission is expected to continue its discussion of the small island developing States Programme of Action.
Commission Work Programme
The Commission on Sustainable Development this morning met to discuss progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. It had before it a report of the Secretary-General on Sustainable development of coastal areas, tourism, energy resources, air transport, maritime transport, telecommunications and management of natural and environmental disasters in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1996/20 and Add. 1-7).
Regarding coastal area management, the report recommends the adoption of appropriate policies and economic instruments for the internalization of the environmental costs of coastal resource use and for their rational management, with a view to changing patterns of use and exploitation. It also recommends the establishment of regional criteria for sewage, effluents and coastal water standards in order to deal effectively with coastal and nearshore water pollution.
On sustainable tourism, it recommends diversification of tourism offerings, strengthening linkages of other economic sectors with tourism and increased investments in the training of local people for the tourist industry. It also recommends data collection and analysis, management of the ratio of the visitor population to the local population, measures against crime and drugs and the establishment of environmental standards for approval of tourism projects.
Regarding natural and environmental disasters, the report recommends the development of national insurance programmes, the formation of regional bodies for natural disaster reduction and interregional mechanisms for training in disaster reduction.
The report of the Secretary-General recommends the following measures regarding air transport: the adoption of international standards for communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management systems and of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) flight safety programme; participation in the ICAO statistics programme; the creation of regional air transport plans; and the study of impacts on small island developing States of the deregulation of the air transport sector.
With regard to maritime transport, the report recommends: investment in modern ships through fiscal policies that encourage such investment; support for port infrastructure investments through direct or guaranteed loans from development agencies; ratification of United Nations conventions pertaining to the maritime sector; the establishment of ship finance divisions within regional development banks; and the creation of joint ventures between regional and global shipping lines with strong training components.
Sustainable Development Commission - 3 - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
A report of the Secretary-General on donor activities in support of sustainable development in small island developing States (E/CN.17/1996/21) states that in order to achieve thorough analysis of the allocation of official development assistance (ODA) to small island developing States by programme area, donors should provide data to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). With implementation of the small island developing States' programme of action having just begun, it would be some time before tangible results of policy reorientation could be documented. Small island developing States should better articulate their priorities to ensure that bilateral and multilateral donors channel resources to the areas of greatest need.
Annexed to the report are tables describing: bilateral and multilateral assistance to small island developing States 1991-1994; net disbursement of external assistance to those States by donor category; bilateral and multilateral disbursements of ODA; external assistance to such States by region, donor category and programme area; bilateral assistance by programme area and donor; bilateral assistance by recipient country and donor; and a list of States covered by the report.
Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States
In an introductory statement, JOKE WALLER-HUNTER, Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, made a general presentation of the report of the Secretary-General. She said that the seven addenda to the report had been prepared by the task managers concerned for those issues not covered in Agenda 21. The report and the addenda supplemented the programme of action with recommendations aimed at implementation. The task managers would present the addenda. The programme of action was based on tripartite partnership at the regional, sub-regional and global levels. It was hoped that the international community would supplement the efforts of States as envisaged in the programme of action.
Mr. D. OODIT, of the Division for Sustainable Development, speaking as the task manager for sustainable tourism, introduced the addendum to the report dealing with sustainable tourism development. He said that the report indicated that tourism provided significant contributions to economic growth in small island developing States, but the level of such contribution varied from State to State. Global travel and tourism were expected to grow. States should avoid excessive reliance on tourism because it carried many risks that could reduce its potential benefits. Tourism development should also not be allowed to have adverse impact on the local population and economy. The report stressed the need for uniformity in the incentives offered at the regional level to attracting foreign investment. Offering over-generous incentives to investors because of competition by States in a region could have negative results for the States in the region.
Sustainable Development Commission - 4 - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
JOSEPH ELOTU, of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), task manager for development of communications, said that telecommunications found applications in every facet of human life. The ITU had upgraded the status of telecommunications to the level of a basic human need and an active element in the development equation. The need for telecommunication services was even compelling in small island developing States because of their relative isolation.
He said that a study by the ITU had shown a virtual straight line between telecommunications density and growth. Telecommunication was of particular importance in the small island States in the areas of trade and commerce, rural development, tourism, transport and communication, where it enhanced efficiency. It also had a key role in general administration and good governance of those States. The report of the Secretary-General included a recommendation for a diversification of the telecommunications structure in the small island States. Governments should provide the infrastructure to facilitate competition in the provision of telecommunication services.
ROBERT C. LANDIS, of the World Meteorological Organization, speaking as task manager for the management of natural and environmental disasters, said that the programme of action had contributed to disaster reduction and the most progress in the area had been in the Pacific and Caribbean region. The States in other regions had not been as successful. The Commission should encourage governments to integrate disaster-reduction programmes into their national development plans. They should also integrate sound environmental management into their plans.
He called for the strengthening of regional and international cooperation among small island developing States. There should also be a needs assessment and the mobilization of additional resources in support of the small island developing States, as well as an international programme for reduction of natural disasters in those States.
JOHN CRAYSTON, of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), task manager for sustainable development of air transport, said that air transport was of vital importance to the small island developing States because it served as an important transport link. There had been many changes in the air transport industry in recent years because of a number of factors. Those changes had led to privatization, which had had an impact on the small island developing States.
He said that many of those States had not indicated their positions with regards to the ICAO standards and recommended practices. The report recommended that those States indicate their positions in the future. They
Sustainable Development Commission - 5 - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
should also familiarize themselves with the current developments in international transport. The report further recommended that the international community sponsor studies to investigate the possibility of developing innovative low-cost transport systems that would be of benefit to small island States.
DAVID WARNER, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), introduced the report on maritime transport. Shipping was particularly important for small island developing States, he said. Trade now accounted for some 30 per cent of their gross domestic product. They faced disproportionately high freight costs and the average age of their merchant fleets exceeded 15 years. A number of the vessels had been designed as trade and bulk carriers, as opposed to general freight carriers that would better serve the needs of exporters.
K.K. SHANE, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, introduced the report on energy resources. He said that small island developing States must progressively improve energy efficiency by moving towards more advantageous energy mixes. Different States had very different energy formulas, depending on their proximity to larger land masses, climate and other factors. Total energy consumption in many States had decreased. For many, petroleum consumption was the sole supply of energy for both transport and electricity generation.
He said traditional biomass fuels, such as wood and charcoal, accounted for some 50 per cent of energy requirements in many small island developing States, as compared with 25 per cent in developing countries as a whole. Most States had great wind, solar, ocean and hydropower potential. Given their remote locations and high energy transport costs, it would seem that they were well positioned to take advantage of renewable energy, but development of that sector had been disappointing.
EUGENE PURSOO (Grenada), Vice Chairman of the high-level panel on small island developing States and external trade, introduced its report. He said small island developing States had intrinsically weak economies. The panel suggested that those countries should give high priority to sustainable development strategies that were predicated on macroeconomic policies that would support long-term development. They should also assess the environmental effects of trade policy. Island developing countries should adopt development strategies that aimed to address inherent economic weaknesses. Small island States should stress external trade, but should also take advantage of local capacities to replace some imports, particularly as related to food production.
He said international community should assist small island developing countries by exercising flexibility as regards imports from small island
Sustainable Development Commission - 6 - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
States, including agricultural products and third-State products exported through developing island States. The panel recommended that such States enhance human resources development with a view to the re-specialization of workers for new economic sectors.
RICARDO TICHAUER, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said that the UNDP was producing an assessment of small island developing States in Africa and the Caribbean. The UNDP had also initiated a dialogue with regional institutions in the South Pacific. On 27 May, UNDP expected to announce new developments regarding the Internet-based "SIDS-Net". Internet service providers had been identified in 23 small island developing States. The cost of Internet access was dropping dramatically and a prototype Caribbean Web page was being developed.
Other Statements
ANNETE DES ILES (Trinidad and Tobago), speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, said that the alliance continued to attach priority to all areas identified in the Barbados Programme of Action. At the regional and national levels, its members had taken steps towards the goal of placing their development on a sustainable path in keeping with the objective of the programme of action. In the Caribbean and the Pacific, coordination mechanisms were now in place to facilitate the process. The support of the international community constituted one of the pillars of the programme of action. The alliance appreciated the outcomes of meetings which should assist the further elaboration of some elements of the programme of action.
She called on the international community to take steps to reverse the declining trend in grants and other concessional resources available to small island developing States. Such reversal would enable the States to meet their needs and fulfil the commitments in the Barbados Programme of Action. Events in the last two years had dramatically demonstrated the vulnerability of members of the Alliance to natural disasters which had occurred with greater frequency. Some islands which were dependent on a single crop for a significant portion of their earnings and national income could have the basis of their revenue be seriously eroded.
She also said that the process of globalization and trade liberalization could have a net negative effect on resources mobilized for sustainable development at the national level. Innovative measures might, therefore, be necessary to ensure that goods and services from small economies continued to find markets.
UTULA U. SAMANA (Papua New Guinea), speaking on behalf of the South Pacific Countries of the United Nations, said that member countries had been in the frontline in translating political commitments into specific activities
Sustainable Development Commission - 7 - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
at the national, regional and international level. Each country forged its own path towards sustainable development and the achievements had been largely due to national collaboration involving all parties, particularly traditional landowners, rather than a direct response to an international stimulant.
He said that as present and future guardians of the world's remaining oceans and biodiversity, the efforts of Pacific developing countries at the local level required greater political support by the international community. In those countries, reforms had meant further shifts in the allocation of limited resources and strengthening of new initiatives. Several regional legal instruments had been signed by their governments and there had been the development of legislative and administrative arrangements to promote sustainable development. He noted that small island developing countries were extremely vulnerable to external factors beyond their control. International cooperation and practical action, therefore, remained an essential piece in framing a global partnership.
ESPEN RONNEBERG (Marshall Islands) said that his country could not say that there had been any follow-up to the Barbados Programme of Action. Most of the national implementation had been carried out by the Marshall Islands with its own limited resources, with little practical involvement by United Nations agencies.
He said that under air transportation, some progress had been made through agreements with Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu to complement Marshall Islands' existing agreement with Fiji and Hawaii. However, Marshall Islands had been unable to make alliances with large global carriers. Those currently serving the area were using various methods to prevent the country from making such arrangements. International support was needed for regional cooperation.
He said that his country was concerned about the continued presence there of nuclear waste left over from the days of nuclear testing. To make matters worse, there had recently been another series of nuclear tests in the region. A test was under way to determine the effect of the new tests, but results would not be out for at least 18 months. His country's ultimate objective was the complete removal from the entire Pacific of all nuclear wastes. That was, however, beyond national capacities and was dependent on the goodwill of those who caused the problem in the first place.
ANDREA WILLIAMS-STEWART (Samoa) said that her country was drafting new shipping and fisheries legislation which would further incorporate requirements under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The programme would encompass a wide range of maritime activities. In the transport sector, Samoa was trying to address the need for improved technology and maintenance of its existing fleet, as well as skilled human resource development and training. Enhanced regional cooperation would be essential to
Sustainable Development Commission - 8 - Press Release ENV/DEV/354 9th Meeting (AM) 24 April 1996
supplement national efforts for sustainable development of the transport sector. The international community should continue to support those initiatives.
She said that the impact of tourism on the social and cultural framework had been a very real concern. Samoa had undertaken a cautious approach to tourism development. Preservation of indigenous tradition and culture had been integrated into environmental impact assessments as a requirement for development projects. Enhanced regional cooperation was essential in the long term to realize tourism's full potential for sustainable development and as a national and regional resource. There was merit in the proposal for the formulation of regional common standards for tourism development, which would strengthen and provide a broad base for strategic planning. The international community should assist in facilitating national efforts in that regard, as well as in supporting regional tourism organizations.
ARUN SINGH (India) said that the Programme of Action had been an important step in fulfilling the commitments of Rio de Janeiro. India had established an Island Development Authority aimed at the management and restoration of the ecosystem of islands in India. The destruction of those ecosystems impacted both the welfare of local peoples and the economic feasibility of small islands. Human resource development and administrative capacity-building required interaction between the scientific community and rural, tribal and isolated communities. Most of those communities had their own traditional wisdom and practices. Traditional and scientific knowledge should be synthesized.
There was a clear need for investment in technologies which could be applied on a small-scale, he said. Not enough attention had been paid to technologies that could sustain small and low-income communities. Incentives should be given to those who could adapt new technology to those needs. India's international technology cooperation programme had been undertaking exchanges with other developing countries. Small island developing States needed adequate terms of trade, market access, development of service industries and the provision of insurance schemes.
* *** *