UN Experts Call for Urgent Support for Small Island Developing States

The upcoming conference, themed "Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity," is slated to be held from May 27 to May 30, 2024, in Antigua and Barbuda.

United Nations human rights experts have issued a plea for immediate action from States, financial institutions, and development banks to aid small island developing countries (SIDS) grappling with a triple threat of climate disasters, debt crises, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In anticipation of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the experts emphasized the dire situation faced by SIDS, highlighting their vulnerability due to factors such as their small size, geographical isolation, dispersed populations, limited and undiversified economies, and heavy reliance on external markets.

The upcoming conference, themed "Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity," is slated to be held from May 27 to May 30, 2024, in Antigua and Barbuda. Its aim is to assess the progress of sustainable development in SIDS and foster partnerships to extend support to these nations.

A key outcome of the conference is expected to be the adoption of The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity. This agenda will serve as a roadmap to bolster resilience in SIDS, recognizing their compounded challenges stemming from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, disasters, economic vulnerabilities, and diminished capacity to withstand external shocks.

The experts stressed the urgent need for collaboration among States, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and other donors to mobilize the necessary resources to prevent the marginalization of SIDS populations. With over 40% of SIDS grappling with unsustainable debt levels, the experts urged the exploration of various avenues, including one-time debt waivers, enhanced official development assistance, concessional long-term loans, and grants, to alleviate their financial burdens.

Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, SIDS bear the brunt of climate change impacts, facing extreme exposure to disasters such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and sea-level rise. The experts reiterated the global commitment made with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015, urging world leaders to fulfill the promise of leaving no one behind by addressing the challenges faced by SIDS through comprehensive measures, including debt relief, financial aid, technology transfer, and technical assistance.