James Ellsmoor | SIDS4 offers opportunity to set ambitious tone for global development

Next month, Antigua and Barbuda will be host to a bevy of international diplomats, civil society experts, and policymakers – all working together to define the development pathways of small island developing states (SIDS) for the next decade. Taking place May 27-30, the Fourth International Conference (SIDS4) will be a pivotal moment for island communities the world over.

Key agenda issues such as long-term resilience building and adaptation to climate change, as well as the unique sustainability challenges faced by islanders, are set to be discussed and create the framework for the 2024-34 development plan, the Antigua & Barbuda Accord. SIDS4 comes at a time when the voices of island leaders and their communities are increasingly strengthening on the global stage.

As one of the groups the most affected by climate change, islanders have become more vocal on the international stage in recent years. From addresses by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Tuvalu Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Kofe to the appointment of Grenadian diplomat Simon Stiell as UNFCCC secretary, or innovative blue economy policies adopted in Fiji and Palau – SIDS also stand as beacons of hope, rather than vulnerability.

LEVERAGING ISLAND SYSTEMS

Ahead of SIDS4, a two-day event at the seat of the United Nations (UN) in New York, in March, was held to catalyse conversations between diplomats, researchers and civil society experts. The SIDS Future Forum was hosted by the global affairs think tank ODI, home to the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative, in partnership with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); the UK government, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs; and Island Innovation.

The SIDS Future Forum discussed some of the latest research and policy developments from the Caribbean, Pacific and AIMS regions, highlighting the challenges and solutions available ahead of SIDS4. Following these two days of discussions, one thing was clear: any SIDS development plan must be centred on island knowledge, resources, and approaches.

“Antigua & Barbuda’s vision for this 10-year framework is exceedingly audacious,” expressed Tumasie Blair, Antigua & Barbuda’s deputy permanent representative to the UN. “Our consultations with diverse partners gravitated towards the innovative ideas put forth by Antigua & Barbuda, advocating for a departure from the conventional approaches typically adopted by the UN towards small states. For the past 30 years, the UN system has faltered in its support for SIDS, but the SIDS Future Forum and SIDS4 present an opportunity for a paradigm shift and a reassessment of perspectives.”

TOWARDS RESILIENT PROSPERITY

Hundreds of island stakeholders will be uniting in Antigua & Barbuda in May under the theme of “Charting the Course Towards Resilient Prosperity” and work towards a more sustainable, prosperous and resilient future for SIDS. All will be hoping to put forth a strong framework capable of ensuring the long-term resilience of their communities. If the discussions held at the SIDS Future Forum are anything to go by, policymakers are keen to set an ambitious tone.

The Antigua and Barbuda Accord will be yet another step towards solidifying island leadership on the global stage. “[The year] 2024 presents itself as an important point of departure for our future development,” noted AOSIS Chair Peseta Noumea Simi at a pre-SIDS4 technical workshop in Samoa. “This is where we right our sails. This is where we collectively get it right. The last decade presents a collection of lessons for us to build on.”

SIDS4 promises to be a significant moment for island communities, especially considering the impending climate challenges expected in the upcoming decade. Despite being at the forefront of climate impacts, islanders have taken up key leadership roles in mitigation, adaptation, resilience-building and policymaking. With the world’s major economies shifting towards carbon neutrality and embracing nature-based solutions, the international policy landscape is evolving towards concerted development led by small island nations.

James Ellsmoor is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and writer. He is co-founder and director of Solar Head of State, and CEO at Island Innovation. Recognised on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his work on sustainable energy, James is passionate about climate change advocacy and environmental policy. Send feedback to james@islandinnovation.co and columns@gleanerjm.com.