The Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) SIDS4 (for its acronym in English) has produced an ambitious and wide-ranging outcome document: the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), which sets out a clear path of action for the survival, resilience and sustainable development of small islands around the world.
The ABAS is the fourth international agreement on planning a sustainable development pathway for small islands. It continues the work of the Barbados Programme of Action (1994), the Mauritius Strategy (2005) and the Samoa Pathway (2014). It is a long-negotiated document that seeks to address how the world’s small islands can survive while facing the multiple vulnerabilities of anthropogenic climate change, isolation, debt and financing sustainable development.
SIDS have the right to insist on receiving assistance
At the opening ceremony held in St. Johns in May, the Prime Minister of the host country, Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, said: “This is a crucial meeting at a time of unprecedented global challenges where SIDS find themselves on the front line of a battle against a confluence of crises, none of which they have caused or created. Our inherent vulnerabilities, characterised by small size, limited financial resources and limited human capital, place us at a marked disadvantage on the global stage, with the scales of equity and justice unevenly balanced against us.”
Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Small island developing States have every right and reason to insist that developed economies deliver on their promise to double adaptation finance by 2025. And we must hold them to this commitment at a minimum… In the long term, we are working towards deep reforms to the outdated, dysfunctional and inequitable global financial architecture. We need a financial system that puts the interests of developing countries first and is able to function as a global safety net. And for SIDS, that means simplifying the processes for accessing finance. It also means reviewing the rules for accessing concessional finance, to include the swift adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index.”
The foundation of ABAS is the recognition that the next ten years are critical for SIDS, and that “the economic, social, environmental, as well as geopolitical, threats to SIDS’ development are so great that they can only be ameliorated by a revitalized enabling environment that significantly impacts their sustainable development. Without the full support of the international community, SIDS will suffer potentially far-reaching consequences.”
The way forward – ABAS
ABAS agrees that SIDS need assistance to build resilient economies through improved connectivity and better ecosystems. It notes that SIDS must foster safe, healthy and prosperous societies by promoting secure communities, inclusive institutions and healthier societies. It recognizes that small islands need urgent support to enhance sustainable energy transition and access to affordable and reliable energy; develop integrated water resources management; increased food security; and improved resilient infrastructure. ABAS recognizes that SIDS are seriously threatened by anthropogenic climate change and need the global community to accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement climate change measures. ABAS also agrees that there must be increased and improved ocean and biodiversity conservation.
Importantly, ABAS agrees to reform the international financial architecture, addressing gaps and deficiencies to facilitate easier access to affordable concessional financing for SIDS, through recognition of the multiple risks and vulnerabilities faced by the islands.
Imagine a world without islands
In the run-up to SIDS4, ECLAC’s Caribbean Sebregional Headquarters and the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area (UNIC Caribbean) produced the “Imagine a World Without Islands” campaign, which showcased islanders and their stories arguing that their homelands and lifestyles are worth fighting for. Young people, ordinary people and island celebrities recorded videos about their favourite aspects of island life and their unique cultures, which are being eroded by stark climate change and crippling debt. The campaign also outlined key concepts of what makes SIDS vulnerable and highlighted the enormous impact that islands and their inhabitants have had on the world.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) find themselves in the midst of multiple crises, from the devastating climate crisis and escalating external debt to the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite contributing less than 1% of greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, the world’s 39 small island nation-states are disproportionately affected by the consequences due to their unique vulnerabilities including remoteness, size and small economies, dependence on ocean resources, import reliance, and limited access to finance.
For more information on the SIDS4 Conference and the campaign, please visit:
“Imagine a World Without Islands” campaign Hands Megaphone to Island People Ahead of SIDS4 Conference.
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