The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Gutierrez, wants to see
international efforts mobilise to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to
implement strategies backed by investments, to mitigate against the natural and
man-made shocks to their economies.
The Secretary General’s comments were made at the opening of the Fourth
International Conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in St. John’s,
hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda government and people.
According to the Secretary General, SIDS are exceptional; exceptionally beautiful,
exceptionally resilient but exceptionally vulnerable.
“Your unique geography puts you at the mercy of climate chaos, rising sea levels
and land degradation. Climate change is an existential crisis for the entire human
family, but SIDS are on the front lines,” he noted.
Secretary General Gutierrez explained that the unique economic profile of SIDS —
including their reliance on imports, and the cost and complexity of their supply
chains — makes them extremely sensitive to global economic shocks.
“The past decade has dealt a series of blows that have undermined development
progress in the SIDS: record hurricane seasons in the Atlantic; two of the most
intense cyclones ever in the South Pacific; and the COVID-19 pandemic, which
decimated tourism.
“At the same time, you are at the mercy of global trends including continued
economic turmoil across the developing world; and the ripple effects of geo-
political tensions and conflict,” he further detailed.
The UN chief is urging SIDS governments to back up their commitment to the
ABAS with bold investments and sustained engagement across all sectors of
sustainable development.
However, he noted that SIDS countries cannot do it along. “The international
community has a duty to support you – led by the countries that have greatest
responsibility and capacity to deal with the challenges you face,” he declared.
