Excerpt and photo from aosis.org

Islands are in grave danger of falling further behind on sustainable development goals as they grapple with a myriad of challenges, a crisis which will be at the core of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, SIDS4, commencing on Monday 27th May in Antigua and Barbuda. The United Nations and world leaders have declared SIDS4 will be the most pivotal summit of this decade for small island developing states (SIDS) as they unite to formalize a new action plan for achievement of sustainable development goals for SIDS. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which represents 39 SIDS from the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, India and South China Seas regions will be at the fore of discussions and are calling for increased global support to advance necessary progress.

The special circumstances of SIDS for sustainable development have long been affirmed, including their small size and therefore small economies, locations remote from international markets, vulnerability to external shocks, and fragile land and marine ecosystems. According to the United Nations, SIDS’ sustainable development is in peril due to threats from the climate crisis, international conflicts, gloomy global economic outlook, lingering COVID-19 effects, and a severe debt crisis. The total public debt for SIDS stands at approximately US$82 billion.

“We are veering dangerously off-path of our 2030 SDG goals, and our world is not living up to the promise that we shall leave no one behind,” said Ambassador Fatumanava Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Chair of AOSIS. “SIDS4 will be crucial as we will focus the international community’s attention on effectively addressing the urgent needs of SIDS. SIDS cannot be left to drown in crises not of their own making – this would have catastrophic consequences for the entire world.”