Prime Minister Calls for New Era of Fervent, Persistent Progress towards Resilient Future, as Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States Opens
As the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States opened in Antigua and Barbuda today, speakers highlighted its theme — “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity” — and detailed, over the course of a day-long debate, the unique challenges that such countries face, the distinctive perspectives they hold and the tailored support they require to unlock their transformative potential.
Opening the Conference following his election as its President, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne stressed that small island developing States are “on the front lines of a battlefield of a confluence of crises — none of which they have caused or created”. Further, their small size, limited financial resources and constrained human capital place them at a marked disadvantage on the global stage. Urging that the Conference spark a new era of fervent, persistent progress, he stated: “Let it be proclaimed that here, on the shores of Antigua and Barbuda, we did more than dream of a resilient future — we acted decisively.”
On that, Secretary-General António Guterres recalled that both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on climate change were born, in large part, from the efforts and leadership of small island developing States. “Today, we need your fierce voices more than ever,” he stressed, underlining the need for developed countries to fulfil their climate pledges and for reformation of the outdated, dysfunctional and unfair global financial architecture. Emphasizing that collaboration and mutual support will help such States weather both geopolitical and physical storms, he added: “And when you speak together, SIDS can make an almighty noise.”
Illustrating that was Dennis Francis (Trinidad and Tobago), President of the General Assembly, who commended small island developing States’ efforts to advance sustainability and conservation on the world stage. In that context, he recalled that nine small island States — led by Vanuatu, and including Antigua and Barbuda — successfully brought a case before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, which ruled that carbon emissions can be considered a sea pollutant. The Conference, he said, offers the international community an opportunity to work together to chart a sustainable, equitable development course — not only for such States, “but for all of humanity”.
The Conference, along with its outcome document, “will serve as a beacon, guiding the pathway” for sustainable development in small island developing States for the next decade, said Paula Narváez (Chile), President of the Economic and Social Council. “We must all recommit to this purpose,” she stressed, pointing out that, while such States are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, they face “substantial challenges” in accessing climate finance that often coincide with significant debt burdens. The “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS” is an opportunity to scale-up priority measures, she said, including economic revitalization, aid enhancement and climate finance.
Small island developing States should not have to choose between “the recovery of today or the development of tomorrow”, stressed Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States. Such States’ unique vulnerability warrants special treatment, and she called on the international community to create an enabling environment that can help small island developing countries tackle the economic, environmental and geopolitical threats to their development. Further calling for bold ideas and recommitment, she stressed that “unity is strength and resilience”.
Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the Conference, meanwhile, recalled that barriers to accessing concessional financing led Antigua and Barbuda — the Conference’s host — to assume unsustainable levels of debt to finance its recovery. “This is a far too common part of the SIDS’ story,” he said, adding that it is not one they “can rewrite on their own”. However, that story is not just one of vulnerability, but incredible resilience, and he urged that the Conference be “a catalyst for new and reinvigorated partnerships, financing and ambitious actions” to support these extraordinary island nations to reach their potential.
In that vein, Rabab Fatima, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island States, highlighted critical areas of support for the implementation of the Conference’s Agenda. To that end, she reported that her Office will launch a new advocacy plan to increase climate financing, unlock greater concessional financing and ensure that small island developing States’ unique vulnerabilities are fully reflected in financing mechanisms. It will also support the political process on the multidimensional vulnerability index and call for urgent reform of the international financial architecture, she said.
In the ensuing general debate, over 30 high-level speakers — among them Heads of State and Government, most from small island developing States themselves — took the floor to alternately spotlight the unique characteristics of such States, the specific problems they face and the urgent, tailored solutions required to address them. Many cited the example of recent, devastating landslides in Papua New Guinea in this context, expressing sympathy for those affected and urging international solutions fit for purpose.
It is “well past time that our development partners and the UN system sharply upscale efforts to adjust your large systems to small island State structures and scales”, stressed Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands. Joining many others, she also underscored the need to “transform our approach to climate finance” and urged a new goal that “drastically” increases the amount of funding available to small island developing States — particularly for adaptation and loss and damage.
“Any undertakings will be limited without a profound and comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture,” stressed Vice-President of Cuba Salvador Valdes Mesa, welcoming the establishment of a specific facility to support the debt sustainability of small island developing States. He also reiterated the need to create a set of measures that go beyond gross domestic product (GDP) to access concessional finance and to develop trade rules that consider such States’ special circumstances.
Along those lines, José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, observed that the world is formatted for countries with large territories and large populations. “And here,” he emphasized, “our problems as SIDS begin”. Underlining the need to “break the trap” — including the “per capita trap” — posed by small territories and small populations, he also stated that graduation to middle-income status is not an end point. Rather, “the arrival point is sustainable development”, he stressed, also joining others in calling for the adoption of a multidimensional vulnerability index to enable access to concessional financing.
Others stressed the need to overcome implementation silos, such as Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives, who questioned whether a 10-year programme can consider the rapid changes that transform small island developing States. He asked: “Wouldn’t it be wise to have a five-year programme and make it closely aligned with other development agendas?”
“The time has long passed for episodic, once-per-decade engagement,” stressed Shawn Edward, Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training of Saint Lucia. Rather, it is time to conclude global ambivalence to climate change, end the use of per capita GDP as an obstacle to development assistance and focus corrective attention on small island developing States’ debt burdens.
Small island developing States, he said, currently contend with “a world where many remain trapped in the belief that more debt is the answer to poverty, that more weapons are the answer to conflict or that more time is the answer to urgent climate crisis”. However, the Conference recognizes that the pathway to meaningful sustainable development lies in solidarity, genuine cooperation and full understanding of “the needs, peculiarities and contributions of each member of our global family”, he stressed.
Opening Remarks
GASTON BROWNE, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, delivering opening remarks following his election by acclamation as President of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, underlined the importance of its theme — “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity”. Stressing that such States are “on the front lines of a battlefield of a confluence of crises — none of which they have caused or created” — he said that such States’ small size, limited financial resources and constrained human capital place them at a marked disadvantage on the global stage. Further, their journey towards development has been repeatedly disrupted by monumental crises, among them the financial meltdown of 2008 and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This necessitates urgent, multilateral solutions, and he observed that those present are gathered “not only to reiterate challenges, but also to demand and enact solutions”. The Global North, in particular, must honour its commitments — including providing $1 billion in climate financing to assist with adaptation and mitigation.
“This year has been the hottest in history in practically every corner of the world,” he went on to say, stressing: “To ignore this is to gamble with our collective future.” Oil-producing companies must be held accountable for their pivotal role in climate change — one in which they prioritized profits over environmental sustainability — and he underscored that “we stand at a juncture where actions — or failure to act — will dictate the fate of SIDS [small island developing States]”. Emphasizing that major contributors to climate change have failed to meet their obligations to mitigate its effects, he said that this is the reason that his country — alone with Tuvalu — established the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. The Commission then obtained a ruling from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea that it is insufficient for nations to make “empty and grossly inadequate” commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change, he recalled.
He therefore urged major polluters to recognize and respect that historic ruling, stressing that “the path to resilient prosperity must be paved with stones of international cooperation”. This should include sustainable development, debt relief, capacity-building, technology transfer and climate funding. Underscoring that the cost of action is “high and growing”, he said this strains economies, burdens citizens, diminishes quality of life and stifles development ambitions. He also urged the adoption and use of a multidimensional variability index to assist middle- and high-income small island developing States in accessing concessional financing, especially during periods of crisis. The outcome of the Conference must spark a new era of fervent and persistent progress, he stressed, urging: “Let it be proclaimed that here, on the shores of Antigua and Barbuda, we did more than dream of a resilient future — we acted decisively.”
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that small island developing States are “on the front lines” for climate change, an existential crisis for the entire human family. Their unique economic profile, including reliance on imports, and the cost and complexity of supply chains, makes them extremely sensitive to global economic shocks. The new “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS” (to be adopted during this conference) outlines steps to achieve resilient prosperity in partnership with the international community. “The United Nations stands with you in reaffirming SIDS’ aspirations,” he declared, pledging support for their efforts to halt and mitigate the terrible impacts of the climate crisis; build resilient economies; foster safe, healthy and prosperous societies; achieve water, food and energy security; conserve biodiversity; and protect and sustainably use the ocean and its resources.
He said that while small island developing States must back up these words with bold investments and sustained engagement across all sectors of sustainable development, they cannot do this alone. The international community, led by the countries that have the greatest responsibility and capacity to deal with these challenges, has a duty to support. Small island developing States are “a test case” for climate justice and financial justice. With the world fast approaching the 1.5°C limit that would avoid the worst impacts of global heating, he warned that crossing tipping points would pose an existential threat to some small island developing States. “We cannot accept the disappearance of any country or culture under the rising waves,” he stressed, adding: “The idea that an entire island State could become collateral damage for profiteering by the fossil fuel industry or competition between major economies is simply obscene.”
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on climate change were born thanks in large part to the efforts and leadership of small island developing States for the past three decades, he acknowledged. “Today, we need your fierce voices more than ever,” he said, for “calling out the G7 and G20 countries that fail to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and demanding that every country aligns its national climate plan with the 1.5°C limit — with credible timelines and policies to phase out fossil fuel production and consumption”. Small island developing States also need financial justice. Developed economies must fulfil their pledge to double adaptation financing by 2025. This is “a bare minimum”. They have every right to call for new and significant contributions to the loss and damage fund. In a two-speed financial world, the global majority — the countries that need financing for development — are paying sky-high costs to borrow money, with nearly half of small island developing States at, or close to, unsustainable levels of debt.
He therefore called for a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Stimulus to scale up resources for the sustainable development of developing countries. In the longer term, the outdated, dysfunctional and unjust global financial architecture must be reformed. “We need a financial system that puts the interests of developing countries first,” he said, stressing the need to simplify processes to access finance and revisit the rules for access to concessional financing, to include tools like the multidimensional vulnerability index. The Summit of the Future in September will be an opportunity to create strong political momentum for these reforms. “At times of crisis, it may be tempting to turn inward, lower expectations and dim hopes, but that is not the SIDS way,” he asserted, emphasizing: “Collaboration and mutual support will help SIDS to weather both geopolitical and physical storms. And when you speak together, SIDS can make an almighty noise.” He urged them to do so at this critical time “for our planet and our future”. “Together, let’s deliver meaningful change for the people and communities of small island developing States and beyond,” he said.
DENNIS FRANCIS (Trinidad and Tobago), President of the General Assembly, agreed with Prime Minister Browne’s observation that the risks and socioeconomic consequences inherent in the global financial architecture and banking systems are frustrating the developmental aspirations of small States. “If we do not undertake substantive reform of the international financial framework and multilateral architecture and their governance, developing countries — including the SIDS — cannot unleash their full potential,” he stressed. Noting that he hails from the neighboring island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, he said this Conference’s endeavour to assess the collective progress of small island developing States resonates personally with him and praised the beauty of those countries, “from the sandy white beaches of the Maldives to the stunning vistas of the Seychelles and the turquoise waters of Antigua and Barbuda”.
Also highlighting the remarkable diversity of their vibrant ecosystems, he commended them for advancing the sustainability conversation on the world stage. Nine small island States, led by Vanuatu and including Antigua and Barbuda, he recalled, successfully brought a case to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, which ruled that carbon emissions can be considered a sea pollutant. Stressing the importance of supporting small island developing States to enhance their resilience to exogenous shocks such as market fluctuations, climatic extremes and rampant disasters, he noted that “more than 40 per cent of them have debt-to-GDP [gross domestic product] ratios above 40 per cent, with some exceeding 100 per cent”. Abandoning the outdated economic paradigm of GDP per capita as an indicator of economic well-being and incorporating a multidimensional vulnerability index could break this cycle, he added.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 is yet another crucial opportunity to mobilize the necessary resources to build resilience in small island developing States, he said, noting that from 1970 to 2020 those States lost $153 billion due to weather, climate and water related hazards. Recalling how he convened the first ever Sustainability Week in the General Assembly last April, he noted that he has continued to highlight the peculiar challenges faced by countries in special situations, including least developed, landlocked developing and small island developing States. In 2023, he also reconstituted the Board of Advisers for these vulnerable countries. The upcoming Summit of the Future offers world leaders another chance to forge a global consensus for transformative actions, he said, adding that this conference is a moment for the international community to recommit to work together to chart a sustainable and equitable development course not only for small island developing States but for all humanity.
PAULA NARVÁEZ (Chile), President of the Economic and Social Council, said that this conference, along with its outcome document, “will serve as a beacon, guiding the pathway” for sustainable development in small island developing States for the next decade. “We must all recommit to this purpose,” she urged. While such States’ economic prospects are projected to improve, growth remains volatile — often heavily dependent on sectors such as agriculture and tourism. Further, such States are highly susceptible to external shocks, and their distance from major markets exacerbates trade costs and limits opportunities for competitiveness and economic diversification. She also pointed out that such States are extremely vulnerable to natural hazards and the effects of climate change; yet, they face “substantial challenges” in accessing climate finance that often coincide with significant debt burdens. She also urged those present to address the gender-specific impacts of these challenges, as women and girls in such States are disproportionately affected by climate change, economic instability and health crises.
“Despite these circumstances, the resolve of SIDS countries, their partners and stakeholders to find collaborative and inclusive solutions has been inspiring,” she said. The “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS” is an opportunity to scale-up measures in priority areas, including revitalizing such States’ economies; enhancing the efficacy of financing and aid; making climate finance work; leveraging data and digital technologies; and investing in human capital. Stating that the Council “is ready to do its part”, she reported that the segment relating to small island developing States at the high-level political forum on sustainable development will be “repurposed” to annually review progress against commitments made in the new Agenda are aligned with the SDGs under review. She added that, with her remaining time as President, she will work with Council members, small island developing States and the Secretariat “to ensure that a data-driven, evidence-based monitoring-and-evaluation framework be established to advance effective follow-up and implementation”.
FIAME NAOMI MATA’AFA, Prime Minister of Samoa and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, noting how “we as SIDS have held fast” to the idea of resilient living, said sustainable development is not “a wistful notion”. Calling on the international community to create a world where the idea of resilient development is not far-fetched, she said perhaps the difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. “The path to real change can seem almost hopeless, especially when this intractable system seems so fixated on maintaining itself,” she pointed out. However, compromising to political expediencies is no longer an option, given that the multilayered crisis happening across the world leaves little room and time to manoeuvre, she said.
Small island developing States, she continued, should not have to choose between “the recovery of today or the development of tomorrow”. Stressing the importance of greater equity in the international community, she said the unique vulnerability of small island developing States warrants special treatment. Underscoring the need for economies that are robust, diversified, adaptable and able to ensure social equity and environmental sustainability, she called on the international community to create an enabling environment that can help small island developing States tackle the economic, environmental and geopolitical threats to their development. Recalling how small island developing States set out on a noble path in 1994 forming partnerships that enabled actions, she said it has, however, not been enough. Often the international community was too slow to act or failed to act. Calling for bold ideas and recommitment, she stressed that “unity is strength and resilience.”
LI JUNHUA, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the Conference, said that small island developing States know all too well that the fate of all nations is deeply intertwined: What happens in one impacts life in the other. “SIDS are caught in a storm of global problems they did little to create — which can wipe out years of hard-fought development progress overnight,” he said. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused catastrophic damage to Barbuda, with 95 per cent of all properties destroyed. Barriers to accessing concessional finance led Antigua and Barbuda, the host of this conference, to take on unsustainable levels of debt to finance its recovery. “This is a far too common part of the SIDS’ story”, but “not a story that SIDS can rewrite on their own”, he said.
But “the SIDS story is not just one of vulnerability, but one of incredible resilience,” he said. These countries have pioneered new approaches to protect the world’s ocean and preserve biodiversity. The “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS” sets out their ambitions and offers “an opportunity to turn the tide and set SIDS on the path to achieve resilient prosperity,” he said. The Conference will be “a catalyst for new and reinvigorated partnerships, financing and ambitious actions” to support these extraordinary island nations to reach their potential. Commitments made here must resonate in the Summit of the Future in September 2024 as well as the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025.
RABAB FATIMA, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and Special Adviser for the Conference, said that her Office has been privileged to work alongside the small island developing States to forge global cooperation tailored to their specific needs since its establishment in 2001. Her Office has steadfastly ensured that the international community recognizes and addresses these nations’ unique challenges. Yet, they remain disproportionately affected by the current overlapping global crises. This is jeopardizing their development progress. “Now is the time for the international community to step up its efforts and bring about real changes in the lives of the people in these countries,” she said, as “we begin a new decade of transformative action for the SIDS”. The aim is to put global attention squarely on these States by adopting the “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS”.
Highlighting three critical areas of support for the new Agenda’s implementation, she said that her Office will launch of a new advocacy plan to increase climate financing, unlock greater concessional financing and ensure that these countries’ unique vulnerabilities are fully reflected in financing mechanisms. It will also support the political process on the multidimensional vulnerability index and call for urgent reform of the international financial architecture. Her Office will work with small island developing States and other partners to advance the timely proposal for a dedicated “SIDS Debt Sustainability Support Service”. The second priority is to forge new and stronger multi-stakeholder partnerships by building on the momentum started at the successful “SIDS Global Business Network Forum” over the last two days. The takeaways of the Forum will constitute important elements for the UN Secretary-General’s recommendations for the strengthening of the “SIDS Partnership Framework” and the “SIDS Global Business Network”, as requested by the new Agenda.
The third priority is to ramp up coordinated action for small island developing States from across the UN family, working with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, other UN entities, resident coordinators in small island developing States, regional commissions and UN country teams. Her Office will strengthen its “SIDS National Focal Point Network” and develop a toolkit for this network to mainstream the Agenda. It will work towards the full operationalization of the “Centre of Excellence for SIDS”. Despite their challenges, small islands developing States offer tremendous opportunities. “The SIDS4 Conference is our once-in-a-decade opportunity to bring about that transformation,” she said, asserting: “Let us not miss this opportunity”. She then pledged to continue “to keep SIDS issues high on the global agenda” and “to be with you on this transformative journey”.
LUTRELL JOHN, youth representative, noted that the myriad socioeconomic vulnerabilities of small island developing States are well-known, pointing out that they are “all too susceptible to the ravages of climate change”. Recalling witnessing the “life-changing devastation” wrought by Hurricane Irma in 2017, he also described the current reality: “I see the beach erosion and the plastic pollution; I feel the increasing heat.” While he noted the beauty of Antigua and Barbuda, his home, he said: “I fear for our future.” He then urged those present that, if they really wish to achieve “the sustainable development we all say we want so urgently”, the voices of young people must be at the heart of dialogues at all levels. Their ideas and solutions must be respected, as they are committed to bringing the vulnerable and marginalized into the development conversation. He therefore urged those present to “work together to ensure that children and young people thrive in sustainable, just and inclusive societies”.
General Debate
WAVEL RAMKALAWAN, President of Seychelles, said that despite three decades of recognition of the special considerations deserved by small island developing States, they face a complex web of interlinked issues, from climate change and rising sea levels to environmental degradation, devastating pandemics, geopolitical tensions, economic vulnerability and sustainable development. The outcomes have spiraled into mounting debt levels and a dearth of capacity to invest in resilience and climate action, making the pursuit of enduring prosperity daunting and seemingly unending. He called for unity among small island developing States. “We have let ourselves down in the past, for we have been unable to present a united voice, but rather each region has been defending its turf,” he said, citing their failure to present an agreed position at the UN climate conference in 2023. “Can we agree to work together at this summit and stick together as one?” he asked.
He noted that island States must be understood. “When there is war on the continent, we are the first ones to suffer increases in the cost of living […] Continental pollution ends up on our shores,” he said. They stand firm for the adoption of the multidimensional vulnerability index. The world is taking its time while they suffer. It is unfair. “Our intention is not to beg or rob others, but rather we simply want access to concessionary financing for us to be able to face the future and survive,” he said. Turning to the loss and damage fund, he urged small island developing States not to start differentiating among themselves as to who should have access. “Our resolve must remain unwavering as we chart a course towards a more resilient, prosperous and sustainable future,” he said, stressing that they embraced innovative solutions, nurtured international partnerships and advocated for environmental conservation. “Tackling these challenges demands collective global action, not least being united,” he asserted.
MOHAMED MUIZZU, President of Maldives, noting that “as SIDS, we know all too well the feeling of being helpless”, called on world leaders to unite in calling on Israel to stop the war on Rafah and the genocide in Gaza. Outlining the support needed from the international community, he said bilateral partners must employ more innovative financing and work with official creditors to lower borrowing costs and increase terms of maturities. “Our experience with global climate funds is that they are insufficient,” he said, calling for “increased ambition”, especially in formulating the next set of indices to course-correct the rapidly narrowing pathway to the 1.5°C target. Equally necessary, he added, is ambition in finalizing the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, which must include adequate finance for adaptation.
Calling on the UN system, global development institutions and the private sector to adopt a shared and synergistic approach to support States such as his, he pointed out that the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda requests effective support from the international community. Stressing the need to overcome silos in implementation, he questioned whether a 10-year programme can consider the rapid changes that transform small island developing States. “Wouldn’t it be wise you have a five-year programme and make it closely aligned with other development agendas?” he asked. Further, small island developing States should demand a seat at the global centres of power, he said, noting that this is why his country is seeking membership on the UN Security Council and other UN bodies. Also, drawing attention to his Government’s investments in digital infrastructure and its new “ecocity” Ras Malé, he said: the “future is intelligence-driven”.
HILDA HEINE, President of the Marshall Islands, while noting that large multinational development banks are prepared to spend $400 billion on small island developing States over the next decade, asked: “But what will change on our shores in 10 years?” While a flood of consultants and reports may match the rising seas, she emphasized that the “hard task at home” will be to build Governments that can meet the challenges they face. She then spotlighted the new UN multi-country office in the Federated States of Micronesia as a “strong example” of how management reforms and increased agency presence can play a vital role in tacking the SDGs with “island-tailored strategies”. She underscored, however, that it is “well past time that our development partners and the UN system sharply upscale efforts to adjust your large systems to small island State structures and scales”. Until this happens, such States’ aspirations will remain out of reach.
Also underscoring the need to “transform our approach to climate finance”, she urged a new goal that “drastically” increases the amount of funding available to small island developing States — particularly for adaptation and loss and damage. To illustrate the scale of the challenge, she said that $9 billion will cover the hard infrastructure protection for two major population centres in her country. “It won’t cover the other things to adapt,” she said, “like strengthening health or education systems, or preserving our local cultures”. Noting that subsidies for fossil-fuel consumption topped $1 trillion in 2022, she urged those present to imagine the impact that money could have if it went to adaptation, renewable energy or the world’s most needy. The costs will only rise — “and will be paid in more and more human lives”, she observed — if the root cause of fossil fuel is not addressed. She therefore announced that her country is joining the initiative for a fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty.
SALVADOR VALDES MESA, Vice-President of Cuba, said that small island developing States face an adverse and challenging international economic outlook, characterized by high levels of indebtedness, inflation, food, energy and climate crises and limited access to financing due to their status as middle-income countries. They suffer losses — due to climate change and natural hazards — equivalent to 8 per cent of national income. The persistent development challenges facing these nations require adequate provision and mobilization of all means of implementation and urgent cooperation and solidarity to achieve the internationally agreed goals. “Any undertakings will be limited without a profound and comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture,” he said, calling for fair treatment to developing countries both in the decision-making process and in access to finance.
Welcoming the new Agenda and consideration to establish a specific facility to support the debt sustainability of small island developing States, he also reiterated the need to establish a set of measures that go beyond GDP to access concessional finance and to develop trade rules that consider their special circumstances. Noting that the cost of climate adaptation is between $22 billion and $26 billion annually, he expressed support for an agreement to double finance for adaptation and the timely implementation of the global goal on adaptation as well as for efforts to establish a Small Island Developing States Centre of Excellence in Antigua and Barbuda. He appreciated the valuable expressions of solidarity of the small island developing States in calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against his country more than 60 years ago by the United States.
FIAME NAOMI MATA'AFA, Prime Minister of Samoa, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, said that while small island developing countries are defined by their vulnerability, they should not be limited by it. Describing States such as hers as “the Davids amongst the Goliaths of the world”, she said that for three decades the Alliance has advocated for global responses that make the world safer and more equitable for everyone. “And they do this even when the global response to safeguarding their future against the climate emergency is tepid,” she said. Small island States have consistently called for the appropriate response mechanisms in finance, adaptation and technology, she pointed out, noting that climate change scientists expect the global temperature to rise to at least 2.5°C above pre-industrial levels in this century, which will blast past the internationally agreed 1.5°C target.
“This is no time for cat and mouse games,” she said, stressing that large emitters must do all they can to reverse this trend. And while small island developing States need financial support to mitigate the impacts of climate change, “no amount of money can compensate for the destruction and utter devastation that our peoples and islands face”, she added. Small island developing States are ready to work diligently with those who want to be part of the journey, she stressed, highlighting the need for 100 per cent renewable energy, debt reduction and technological innovation. Calling for the reform of the international financial architecture, she said that a multidimensional vulnerability index must be used as a tool for development support and accessing concessional finance. “We are not looking for handouts or sympathy,” she said, adding that small island developing States must be given an equal opportunity to make their mark in the global community.
JOSÉ ULISSES CORREIA E SILVA, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, said that the world is formatted for countries with large territories and large populations. “And here, our problems as SIDS begin,” he emphasized. Underlining the need to “break the traps” — including the “per capita trap” — posed by small territories and small populations, he said that basing the volume of investments and financing on population size “strongly limits the development of small island States”. Rather, the best criterion with which to determine the allocation of financing is transformative results — namely, what investments produce in terms of increasing structural resilience and the potential for economic growth. Also stating that graduation to middle-income status is not an end point — rather, “the arrival point is sustainable development” — he urged the adoption and operationalization of a multidimensional vulnerability index to enable access to concessional financing.
He went on to say that small island developing States must “overcome the conditionalities” of small internal marketing; strengthen their ability to attract capital, investments, knowledge and technology; and export goods and services to regional and global markets. Further, the high weight of external debt and severe financing conditions block opportunities for development; however, transforming debt into climate investment can free up resources for investments that build resilience, increase the potential for economic growth and strengthen future debt capacity. Recalling that his country signed an agreement with Portugal to convert bilateral debt into climate and environmental financing, he emphasized that three things were required to conclude the agreement — “political will, trust and joint work”. He stressed that these three things are also required to take action at the global level.
FELETI TEO, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, said that the theme for the Conference — “Charting the Course toward Resilient Prosperity” — aligns well with his country’s commitment to sustainable development and also holds a profound cultural and indigenous significance, as it is rooted in Tuvalu’s navigational traditions, “symbolizing the necessity of learning from the past as we steady and paddle our canoe forward”, he said. As the global community prepares to transition from the SAMOA Pathway to the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, it is necessary to reflect seriously on the past decade’s experience of challenges and achievements to smartly chart a new way forward. Sea level rise is the single greatest threat to Tuvalu’s future survivability as a nation and as a people. “It is neither just nor equitable for a country like mine to bear the highest burdens of living with a deteriorating climate system that we do not contribute to its cause,” he stressed, noting that Tuvalu has therefore embarked on transformative adaptive solutions such as the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, the Rising Nations Initiative and the Future Now Project to name a few.
He also highlighted the joint initiative of Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda in establishing the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law in 2021, which recently secured an advisory opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to clarify States’ legal obligations in respect to countries affected by climate change — a significant achievement bringing the conversation from political commitments to binding legal obligations. Small island developing States must, therefore, utilize the advisory opinion to hold to account those responsible for the deteriorating climate system. Armed with the same objective, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are spearheading a coalition of countries advocating for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to phase out fossil fuels and promote sustainable development and a just transition to renewable energy.
TERRANCE MICHAEL DREW, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, said the path to prosperity reads like the script for a dystopian movie. Yet, the world’s most vulnerable micro-States must navigate this landscape if they are to give their citizens a better quality of life. “That we have made it this far is a tribute to the resilience of island people everywhere,” he said, adding that the cost of capital is too high for small island developing States. This is why the Bridgetown Initiative’s call for the reform of the international financial architecture is imperative, he said, also noting that technology is creating a new global elite. The young citizens of small island developing States need to master the technology that now defines and drives social and economic activity.
Also stressing the need for resilient infrastructure, he noted that many small island developing States are water scarce, yet they are tourism destinations. It is vital that they boost food and nutrition security, he underscored, noting the need also for resilient health systems and highlighting the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’s “25x25 initiative”. “As a physician myself”, he observed, there is a clear link between the climate crisis and a growing incidence of vector borne diseases such as dengue and Lyme disease. Also noting the rising mental health challenges in the region, he pointed out that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has included mental health impacts among the negative impacts caused by climate change. South-South and triangular cooperation are crucial to tackle these major development challenges, he said.
MARK PHILLIPS, Prime Minister of Guyana, recalling the adoption of several programmes of action since the first global conference on small island developing States was held in Barbados 30 years ago, said that such countries continue to face unique environmental and economic challenges. However, these have been exacerbated by the residual impacts of the pandemic, escalating global geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, the digital divide and global inflation. As such States’ energy security is also intricately linked to their sustainable development, he stressed that their “consistent calls to accelerate the clean energy transition — primarily through financing, technology transfer and other relevant means of implementation — are even more relevant today”. While small island developing States are not alone in facing sustainable-development challenges, these adversities are “undoubtedly amplified” in such countries due to their small size, remoteness and heavy dependence on trade and external markets, he said.
Detailing Guyana’s efforts to do its part, he spotlighted its sustainable, responsible management of its resources. Noting its status as a “high forest, low deforestation State”, he reported that 87 per cent of Guyana’s forest cover is still intact. Further, it seeks to diversify its economy by promoting sectors such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries to reduce reliance on the oil sector and lower greenhouse-gas emissions. He also said that his country aims to reduce reliance on imported food by improving food availability and affordability in the region. Stressing, however, that national and regional efforts alone will not suffice if small island developing States are to “chart a new course towards resilient prosperity”, he underlined the need for “significant reforms in global governance”. Among other measures, he called on the international community to continue to support efforts towards the urgent finalization and implementation of a multidimensional vulnerability index.
EDOUARD NGIRENTE, Prime Minister of Rwanda, said that his country believes that small islands and developing States deserve special attention as they are most vulnerable to climate effects. The potential for prosperity for all is huge and untapped. The natural wealth of the planet, especially of small islands developing States, is evident. Action is needed to turn this huge potential into real prosperity. Equally important, nations must build the right and strong partnerships to ensure that their populations, particularly the most vulnerable ones, enjoy better lives and prosperity. Nations keep losing years of efforts and sometimes decades of development to shocks of various types. For small island developing States, climate shocks have become an existential threat. To win the battle, investments in resilience must be scaled up and consolidated, he said, also underscoring the need to foster innovative solutions and knowledge sharing in designing and building climate shock resilient infrastructure.
Small islands developing States host 40 per cent of the world’s coral reefs and support 20 per cent of the earth’s terrestrial biodiversity, he noted. If the climate agenda and finance are to work for the world, they must first work for the most vulnerable small islands developing States. If the global financial architecture is to work for inclusive and sustainable development, it needs to work for all, again starting with the most vulnerable. “There is no way around that,” he said. Landlocked countries and small island States face similar climate vulnerability and financing needs. “We can work together to advocate for a more responsive and inclusive international financial architecture,” he said, underscoring the need to leverage the potential return of investing in people, especially the youth, as well as the potential return of fairer global trade and the technological progress to advance economies. “With bold commitment and sense of urgency, let us strengthen our partnerships and cooperation for the better future of our islands and planet,” he said.
DAVID RANIBOK ADEANG, President of Nauru, stressed that the way forward is through climate action, sustainable development of the ocean and financing. “There is no resilient prosperity for Nauru, or any of us, without climate action,” he said, stressing the need to reduce emissions, phase out fossil fuels and move towards a just energy transition to keep the 1.5°C limit to temperature rise within reach. His country has been building sea walls to safeguard coastlines and communities but this is not a long-term sustainable solution. Describing the Higher Ground Initiative, which aims to relocate displaced communities from low-lying areas to higher ground, he said: “this is not a choice, it is a necessity”. Calling upon the international community to support this initiative, he said the Secretary-General must appoint a Special Representative on Climate and Security.
Further, he said, the international community must address the global vulnerability in the sourcing and supply of critical metals required to power the transition to a low-carbon society. The sustainable use of oceans includes the responsible recovery and extraction of critical metals housed in polymetallic nodules. The recovery of these nodules from the ocean floor is a critical mix in the vulnerable metals supply chain and in expediting the transition to clean renewable energy sources as well as creating the foundations for a circular economy, he said. Therefore, Nauru is investing in the development of world class, robust regulations for responsible sourcing of critical metals. Also underscoring the importance of increased access to sustainable financing and the urgent need to reform the global financial architecture, he called for the early adoption of the multidimensional vulnerability index and the establishment of an interim secretariat.
PHILIP DAVIS, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, said that bushfires seriously compromised visibility, forcing an international airport to temporarily halt all incoming and outgoing air traffic. “Our fear is that this new, fiery reality will become the norm, and April showers will now be replaced by May blazes,” he said. Bushfires are the latest disaster in an escalating climate crisis. The deadline for climate reform is long gone, and the time has come for a climate revolution. “Human action caused this crisis, and only humane actions can fix it,” he said. Rejecting quick fixes or gimmicks, he said that the recent focus on carbon capture and storage is one of the latest examples of wealthy corporations distorting science to spread disinformation. “This so-called solution is lacking in scientific substance and threatens to derail more effective adaptation initiatives,” he warned, adding: “Continuing this trend of band-aid solutions without addressing the root of the problem will, quite frankly, kill us.”
He called upon the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union to join forces with the United Nations to formulate a global tax treaty, which should aim to provide a voice for small island developing States, ensuring that their unique challenges and perspectives are acknowledged and addressed in global financial regulations. Climate and debt are twin crises, which people in the Caribbean know all too well. His nation has incurred billions of dollars in debt due to recovery efforts from climate-driven disasters and billions more are needed to meet climate change targets. “As we look ahead to the next 10 years, let us commit to holding major polluters accountable, securing the financing we need, and developing the best future we can for our people,” he said.
KAY RALA XANANA GUSMÃO, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, said that together, small island developing States are not “small”, and with a shared vision and ambition, they are “big ocean States” working for the resilient prosperity of all. The list of their challenges is long but this conference provides the opportunity to speak with one voice to chart a development agenda for the next 10 years. Timor-Leste is a small country, with only 1.3 million people. Since its independence 25 years ago, “we have overcome daily challenges to build a peaceful and democratic State, brick by brick, from the ashes of war,” he said, adding that the United Nations recognized the unique challenges faced by small island developing States and committed to assisting their sustainable development three decades ago.
Countries have since adopted three frameworks for action, he said, citing the Barbados Programme, the Mauritius Strategy and the Samoa Pathway. This week, they will adopt a new blueprint to complement the previous commitments. Timor-Leste supports these instruments. However, “these commitments are meaningless without effective implementation and the necessary financial allocations”, he said, calling on all States to deliver on their commitments to support small island developing countries. For its part, Timor-Leste is developing a Blue Economy Policy and Action Plan to address marine pollution and conservation of the marine environment and biodiversity, while developing a sustainable blue economy. These initiatives require cooperation and support from the international community that aligns with national priorities.
SIAOSI ‘OFAKIVAHAFOLAU SOVALENI, Prime Minister of Tonga, associating himself with statements to be delivered by the Pacific Small Island Developing States, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Alliance of Small Island States and the Group of 77 and China, spotlighted the unique vulnerabilities that such countries face. These include “being remote, small, fragmented, surrounded by vast ocean spaces and acutely vulnerable to climate change”, he said, adding that “the small size of our economies brings with it that global events have disproportionate impacts on us”. As the cost of goods rise, energy costs spiral and inflation increases, more and more families are pushed into poverty. Further, extreme weather events — ever more frequent — destroy costly infrastructure and precious agricultural land is ruined by saltwater intrusion. “This is the day-to-day reality for our island nation and people,” he said, adding that such reality is faced by “all other SIDS”.
But Tonga, and others across the Pacific, “will not passively wait for more disasters to strike us”, he stressed. Recalling his championing of a regional funding facility — the Pacific Resilience Facility — he said this entity will specifically target adaptation measures to strengthen small island developing States’ resilience to climate shocks. Nevertheless, he underscored that such States need increased, expeditious access to concessional financing to support development efforts and enhance their ability to withstand external shocks. Among other key priorities, he urged the adoption and operationalization of a multidimensional vulnerability index, a tool that would facilitate the provision of “meaningful and effective assistance where and when needed”. Adding that inequalities resulting from trade imbalances are magnified when vulnerability —such as that experienced by small island developing States — is present, he detailed national efforts to boost economic diversification by improving trade regulations.
MARK BROWN, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said that as a proud steward of 2 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zone, his country has strived for sustainable management of marine resources for centuries. The Pacific region leads the way in establishing marine protected areas. The regional management framework on tuna fisheries ensures sustainability, better economic returns and effective monitoring and surveillance to protect this resource. “Many of us have passed legislation to reduce single-use plastics in our countries — even though we did not put plastic in the ocean,” he said, drawing attention to the creation of model regional laws that protect the wealth of Pacific genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
Pacific leaders recently endorsed the creation of a regional Pacific Centre of Excellence and Deep Ocean Science, he said, adding that in November 2023, they approved the operationalization of the Pacific Resilience Facility — a transformative regional financing mechanism created “by the Pacific for the Pacific”. The Group of 20 countries represent 80 per cent of all carbon emissions. They are the only ones that can effectively shift the dial on reducing carbon. Given their dismal emissions reductions to date, they must shift the dial on their financial contributions as well as on the rules of multilateral development banks for debt management and debt restructuring and access to concessional finance, allowing for longer terms, lower interest, greater concessions, for small island developing States.
The representative of Azerbaijan, noting her country’s long history of solidarity with small island developing States, especially during its leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement, said it provided 80 countries, including 20 small island developing States, financial and humanitarian support during the pandemic. Noting that Azerbaijan is also affected by climate change and the Caspian Sea is shrinking, she pointed out that small island developing States are the countries most affected by the phenomenon. Her country will ensure that the voices of these States will be heard loud and clear at the 2024 Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku. Azerbaijan will also take practical steps to assist these countries, such as allocating funds towards technical assistance programmes and providing scholarships to students from them.
RALPH REGENVANU, Minister for Climate Change, Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management of Vanuatu, speaking for the Pacific Small Island Developing States, said that such States “embody resilience and stewardship”. Yet, despite their minimal contribution to global greenhouse-gas emissions, they are on the front lines of that crisis. He therefore called for accelerated global efforts to comprehensively address climate change, including significant increases in financing for adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage that “recognize the specific vulnerabilities of SIDS in the context of climate change”. He added: “The polluters must pay.” Further, he emphasized that small island developing States must build economic resilience on the pillars of innovation and sustainable practices, and that economic diversification will empower communities and reduce dependence on external markets.
Also necessary, he said, are robust frameworks that promote the sustainable use of marine resources, combat illegal fishing and preserve the marine environment, as the health of the ocean is directly linked to that of people and economies. Additionally, small island developing States’ path to development requires renewed commitment from international partners, he stressed, calling for global financial architecture to be reformed “to meet our unique needs”. He also called for predictable, timely support to address the multifaceted impacts of climate change on such States, as well as for the integration of their perspective into relevant global policies and frameworks. Adding that Pacific small island developing States are committed to leading by example — but that such efforts will be insufficient without international solidarity — he urged that the Conference be a moment to translate “words into action, and promises into results”.
DUMEZWENI M. MTHIMKHULU, Minister for Environment and Tourism of Botswana, speaking on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, drew parallels between the challenges his bloc shares with small island developing States. The geographic distinctiveness of the latter presents barriers to trade, digital connectivity and sustainable development pathways. Similarly, the former encounters impediments in accessing global markets and resources due to their landlocked nature. Through harnessing synergies, these two groups of countries can amplify their collective voice on the global stage, advocate for their shared interests and galvanize support to implement their respective agendas.
He underscored multi-stakeholder collaboration as paramount in supporting initiatives of small island developing States, like the SIDS Data Hub, Technology and Innovation Mechanisms, and Investment Forums. In the same vein, development partners, civil society and the private sector have pivotal roles to play in providing the necessary resources and expertise to drive these initiatives forward. He said that Botswana has offered to host the third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in December 2024 for stakeholders to come together and chart a path towards a more prosperous and resilient future for “our group of countries”.
EVERLY PAUL CHET GREENE, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, noting the lack of genuine commitment that has plagued the path to sustainability, called for a transformative shift in approaches. Describing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda as an effective and actionable pathway towards resilient prosperity, he noted that it encompasses a range of strategies from diversifying economies to reducing vulnerability and finding sustainable ways to debt relief. “In a few short years, some of our beloved islands may not exist,” he said, asking the international community to imagine the cultural loss. Despite their vulnerabilities, small island developing States have championed access to climate financing, negotiated a multidimensional vulnerability index and sought accountability in international courts. The current conference is an opportunity for the world to see how a vulnerable island is pushing for innovation and a global reset, he said. “SIDS problems are not just our problems, they are your problems,” he said.
SHAWN EDWARD, Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training of Saint Lucia, said that “the time has long passed for episodic, once-per-decade engagement”. Rather, now is the time for a renewed affirmation and intensified action for small island developing States’ resilient prosperity. The time is now, he stressed, to “conclude our global ambivalence on climate change”; to end the practice of using per capita GDP as an obstacle to any form of developmental assistance or relief for such States; and to focus corrective attention on such States’ debt burdens. Small island developing States, he said, currently contend with “a world where many remain trapped in the belief that more debt is the answer to poverty, that more weapons are the answer to conflict or that more time is the answer to urgent climate crisis”. However, the Conference recognizes that the pathway to meaningful sustainable development lies in solidarity, genuine cooperation and full understanding of “the needs, peculiarities and contributions of each member of our global family”, he said.
SHIRLEY AYORKOR BOTCHWEY, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, noted that many small island developing States are linked by blood with Africa. The success of these nations would be the success of the entire globe. Supporting them is not only right but “a moral duty”. The results of negotiations for the outcome of this conference were disappointing, she said, urging development partners to take comprehensive action to address short-term issues and implement long-term strategies to address the systemic vulnerabilities of small island developing States. This means helping them make better progress by resolving the knock-on effects of the multiple, cascading and increasingly entrenched global crises. The key policy lesson from recent development performance is that “business as usual” is no longer a viable option for the most vulnerable countries — not when the structural vulnerabilities that they face have been further compounded by new and emerging challenges. Ghana urges support for the 2022 Bridgetown Initiative for the reform of the global financial architecture geared at addressing the liquidity challenges among small island developing States.
The representative of United States, acknowledging the presence of the representatives of several islands from her country, reaffirmed commitment to small island developing States’ resilient prosperity and development. Noting that the United States has provided those States with $5 billion in foreign assistance, she said her country is also expanding diplomatic and development presence in small island developing States, with embassies opening in Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The United States has invested $150 billion, and mobilized much more with private sector initiatives, to support sustainable development around the world, she said. Over 95 per cent of its assistance to small island developing States has been in the form of grants which do not put them into debt and dependency. The United States has also committed to scale up international public climate finance and is working with international organizations to address developing country needs, including through the multilateral banking system.
SAKIASI DITOKA, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management of Fiji, underscored that “the next 10 years are critical for SIDS”, spotlighting emerging economic, social and geopolitical challenges. In this context, he said that three questions arise — “where are we, where do we want to get to, and how do we get there”. Recalling a Fijian proverb — “a canoe will sink if the bailers do not draw water out fast enough” — he said its meaning is that, while solutions exist, they must be “catalysed with adequate resourcing”. The world is “at a point of no return”, he stressed, noting that 140 coastal communities in his country will be displaced by 2050 as a direct result of sea-level rise. Further, small island developing States face significant risks from frequent, climate-induced disasters, which have multiplied fivefold over the last 50 years. Urging that the Conference’s outcome document reflect the ambitions of those present, he underlined the need to address “fragmented finance”. This will ensure that resources are channelled effectively, and he also called for debt sustainability and other measures to achieve a global financial architecture tailored to the needs of small island developing States.
ROBERTO ÁLVAREZ, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, said that 30 years after the first Conference on small island developing States, they continue to live with challenges that are far from being solved but are worsening. The climate crisis has made it more difficult for Governments to distribute the expected fruits of democracy, weakened its legitimacy, and made it difficult to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “But we are not gathered here to reiterate our problems as island countries, but to seek common solutions” as well as a renewed multilateralism, he said. The Dominican Republic supports transforming the international financial architecture to support the sustainable development of small island developing States, underscoring the urgency of operationalizing the multidimensional vulnerability index while expressing support for the Bridgetown financing initiative.
JUTTA URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, said the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda outlines an ambitious framework to increase resilience and boost prosperity over the next 10 years. Applauding this milestone, she stressed that it is now time to follow through. The international community must work “harder and faster” to fight climate change. The Union stood alongside small island developing States at the 2023 Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, she recalled, highlighting its support for their call for a loss and damage fund. “Team Europe is also the largest provider of climate finance,” she said, adding that the continent remains committed to ensuring a just transition to climate neutrality.
Stressing that multilateral development banks must address global challenges, she expressed support for the multidimensional vulnerability index and called on development institutions to incorporate this tool into their planning processes. Also calling for the involvement of the private sector, she said the numerous initiatives that are under way in small island developing States must be resourced. Highlighting the Green-Blue alliance in the Pacific as well as the initiative to transform sargassum into a resource in the Caribbean, she said that a rules-based international order is necessary for tackling global problems.
KAMINA JOHNSON SMITH, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, observed: “Climate change has been our planet’s most striking feature in recent times.” Small island developing States’ “very existence” is threatened by increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels and worsening natural hazards, she stressed, pointing out that 70 per cent of Caribbean States’ populations are located in coastal towns and communities that host large portions of productive industries, service sectors and residences. While detailing national efforts to find solutions, she emphasized that “the responsibility for effective action is a global one, as the wide-ranging consequences are, in fact, global — a fact becoming more evident every year”. Further, as the pace and scale of the irreversible impacts of climate change are already pushing beyond small island developing States’ capacity to adapt, she urged a significant increase in climate financing to support meaningful mitigation and adaptation efforts. Also underlining the importance of sustainable ocean management, she reported that her country will sign the United Nations agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction in 2024, adding that it works towards a global agreement on plastic pollution.
ALBERT RAMDIN, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Suriname, said that countries are expected to adopt a bold, forward-looking and action-oriented policy template for small island developing States. At the next conference on these nations, “we should not reflect any more on the current issues but have delivered on the set goals”. Suriname is an extractive industry- and agriculture-based economy, and at the same time one of the only three carbon-negative countries in the world, with a 93 per cent forest coverage, a high level of biodiversity, and low deforestation. The problems and vulnerabilities of small economies have been discussed extensively over the past decades. “We don’t need to rehash them,” he said, underscoring the need to act on them. “It all boils down to the SIDS needing coordinated policies and dedicated external financial support in every instance or scenario,” he stressed.
PENNELOPE BECKLES, Minister for Planning and Development of Trinidad and Tobago, recalling the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action adopted 30 years ago, said that the future is grim despite the intervening years. Commending the creativity and diligence that have sustained small island developing States thus far, she said despite “too many platforms” on climate change, rising sea levels and intense heat waves and the disappearance of hundreds of species pose grave risks. The vulnerabilities of small island developing States are compounded by other factors such as remoteness, she noted, adding that climate finance must be accessible and predictable. This is not charity but a moral imperative, she stressed, calling on developed countries to fulfil their commitments. Climate-resilient infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation measures are crucial to protect communities from extreme weather events. At the same time, climate considerations mut be mainstreamed into all development planning, she added.
ORLANDO HABET, Minister for Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management of Belize, noted that the Atlantic hurricane season will be “extraordinary”, with 17 to 25 named storms predicted. “I need not remind anyone in this room that it takes only one storm and a few hours to erase years of hard-earned development from a small island,” he stressed. While the scarring of small island developing States’ economies is more readily apparent when a storm hits — “and it would seem a perfect storm is brewing”, he observed — such countries also suffer from climate anomalies, the “downstream detritus” of waste and increasing loss of endemic biodiversity. While noting that climate impacts have already cost Belize upwards of 4 per cent of its GDP, he nevertheless emphasized that “this is not the SIDS story I wish to highlight”. Detailing such States’ ambition and efforts to confront emergent global issues, he stressed: “We delivered.” He added: “This SIDS story tells that we are not so much victims as we are defenders of what is right, of what should be.” Urging the international community, now, to deliver, he said: “In so doing, our paths will converge.”
MOHAMAD MALIKI OSMAN, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Education of Singapore, noted that the 2022 UN Secretary-General’s report on the follow-up to and implementation of the SAMOA Pathway showed that most small island developing States are progressing in sustainable energy, food security and nutrition, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and water and sanitation. “But our work is far from over,” he said, as new issues have arisen over the last decade. Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have also emerged, which present opportunities and challenges. Singapore agrees with the new Agenda’s recommendation to harness digital technologies to achieve sustainable development. His country’s experience in adopting mobile banking and digital payment systems — the world’s first unified national e-payment system — has been a positive example. In the spirit of South-South cooperation, Singapore is contributing its digital solutions for health care, electronic verification and accessibility to the open registries of digital public goods managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
RAMTANE LAMAMRA, Minister for Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change of Mauritius, noting that most small island developing States are still recovering from COVID-19, highlighted the wide range of adverse impacts of climate change, from sea-level rise to coral bleaching. His country is committed to an environmentally sustainable development policy and making Mauritius a plastic–free country as soon as possible, he said, highlighting its Environment Master Plan 2020-2030. The Government has reinforced legislation for mainstreaming sustainability and transitioning to a green and circular economy. Outlining plans to address coastal erosion, he also highlighted the establishment of a web-based platform for collecting and centralizing environmental data. Urging the Green Climate Fund to establish a dedicated desk to support small island developing States, he said: “Expectations are high, commitments are ambitious, but the means and will-power to implement them are often limited and inadequate.”
EVELYN WEVER-CROES, Prime Minister of Aruba representing the Kingdom of Netherlands, said that the Kingdom has a long history of expertise in areas such as water management, coastal defence, climate adaptation and hazard risk reduction. Universities in Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Maarten and the Netherlands offer a wealth of expertise to develop sustainable solutions. They seek to empower current and future generations in small island developing States to tackle the pressing challenges of the present time and diversify economies by investing in young people’s skills. The Netherlands has, through a recent allocation of €2.1 billion in special drawing rights (SDRs), aimed to provide additional concessional financing to small island developing States and will explore how to technically support them in successfully submitting applications for various climate funds. “Through our strong voice in the multilateral arena, we will make sure that the concerns of SIDS lead to concrete actions in the field of reforming the international financial architecture,” she pledged.
ABDALLAH ULEGA, Member of the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, stressing the need to strengthen multilateralism through representative and effective international cooperation, cited a proverb from his country: “One finger cannot break a lice”. Despite their challenges, small island developing States have innovative and dynamic people, he said, adding: “What is needed is just the support from the international community to unlock and utilize their potential.” As a nation with extensive coastal and island territories, including the beautiful island of Zanzibar, his country shares many of their environmental, economic, and social vulnerabilities. Calling on the international community to prioritize sustainable development, climate action and the enhancement of marine resources management, he looked forward to the effective and meaningful implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda and welcomed development partners and multilateral stakeholders to cooperate in this endeavour.