Small island states are “a test case for climate and financial justice”

He General secretary of the UN described the future of Small Island Developing States as “a test case” for climate and financial justice in which The world must not fail.

António Guterres spoke these words during the inauguration of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), which is celebrated on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean nation that well understands the destructive power of climate change after suffering the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

More than 20 world leaders and ministerial representatives from more than 100 countries meet with some 4,000 participants (representatives of the private sector, civil society, academia and youth) to address a series of important existential issues for the 39 Small Island States Developing.

The conference will last until Thursday and has as a reference point the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for those States, which sets out the sustainable development aspirations for the next decade of vulnerable small islands, as well as the necessary support to bring those purposes to fruition.

As beautiful as they are vulnerable

The head of the UN recalled that, in addition to their unusual beauty – whether the waters of the Caribbean, the South Pacific or the Indian Ocean -, these States are also exceptionally vulnerable.

“Their unique geography puts them at the mercy of climate chaos, rising sea levels and land degradation. Climate change is an existential crisis for the entire human family, but Small Island Developing States are on the front line,” she stressed.

He added that many of these countries are reeling due to their dependence on imports and complex supply chains, the global impacts of record extreme weatherthe effects on tourism of the COVID-19 pandemic and regional wars.

“The new one Antigua and Barbuda agenda outlines measures to achieve resilient prosperity in partnership with the international community,” said the UN chief.

Guterres affirmed that the UN supports these States in the fight against the climate crisis, building resilient economies and safe and healthy societies; as well as in the conservation of biodiversity, and the protection and sustainable use of the sea and its resources.

The world has a duty to support them

After urging those island countries to make bold and sustainable investmentsadded that they cannot succeed alone.

“The international community has the duty to support them, led by the countries that have greater responsibility and capacity to face the challenges they face,” he said.

We cannot accept the disappearance of any country or culture

“Small Island Developing States are a test case for the climate justice and financial justice“, he maintained, adding that with the critical limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius for global temperature rise rapidly approaching, ““We cannot accept the disappearance of any country or culture under the rising waves.”

“The idea that an entire island state could become collateral damage due to fossil fuel industry speculationor because of the competition between the main economies, is simply obscene,” he pointed out.

Vanguard of global consciousness

Small Island Developing States have been leading from the front, serving as the world’s conscience on the climate crisis, making a difference in Paris in 2015.

“Today we need your voices more than ever”declared the Secretary General.

He explained that Small Island Developing States also need financial justice, which is why he urged the leaders gathered there to insist that developed countries keep their promises to double financing for adaptation.

“They also have all the right to request new contributions and important to the Loss and Damage Fund. Some of their countries have suffered losses worth more than half of their GDP overnight, due to cyclones and storms,” Guterres noted.

Two speed world

“But we are in a two-speed financial world. For the rich: cheap loans and easy money. But the world majority, that is, Countries that need financing for development are paying very high costs for borrowing money,” he lamented.

Debt is sinking the economies of Small Island Developing States as the ocean erodes the coast: “This is creating a vicious cycle of stress and vulnerability and limiting their ability to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Guterres highlighted the need for stimulus for these goals and advocated for profound reforms of the “obsolete, dysfunctional and unjust global financial architecture,” putting the needs of developing countries first.

Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)

Change course

Along the same lines, the secretary general of the SIDS4 Conference said that Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment tells the story of Small Island Developing States.

“But most importantly, it shows the global community how together we can support them. Offers a opportunity to change course and put these countries on the path to resilient prosperity,” said Li Junhua.

Li called the conference “a catalyst for new and revitalized partnerships, funding and ambitious actions to help these extraordinary island nations.” to reach their potential.”

In this sense, he called on all participants in the conclave to implement together the ambitious program of Antigua and Barbuda.

Platform for action

The president of the general AssemblyDennis Francis, a native of the nearby Caribbean state of Trinidad and Tobago, argued that the long-awaited SIDS4 conference “offers a powerful and unique platform” for action under the Antigua and Barbuda programme.

“If we do not undertake substantial reform of the international financial framework and the multilateral architecture and its governance, developing countries, including Small Island Developing States, they will not be able to unleash their full potential to mobilize much-needed resources to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs,” said Francis.

Invitation to disaster

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, stressed that the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States place these countries in a big disadvantage.

The relentless climate crisis has severely undermined efforts to meet the SDGs, making the search for solutions more critical, he noted.

This year has been the hottest on record virtually everywhere, underscoring the urgency of our situation. Ignore this “is play with our collective future“, said.

“Continue with things as usual It’s not just negligence, it’s an active choice that invites disaster. Such indifference will have disastrous repercussions that will affect every nation, every community and every individual across the planet,” he warned.

Browne asserted that putting profits before sustainability must end, and called for the establishment of a global carbon tax to the hugely profitable oil companies. “Failure to act will dictate the fate of Small Island Developing States… It is imperative that we act now, not tomorrow but today, with conviction and unwavering resolve.”