The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States was held in Antigua and Barbuda from 27 to 30 May 2024 and the new SIDS Plan of Action was adopted. Cabo Verde took part in the conference and has expressed an interest in organising the next one. The new Plan provides for four priority development areas and ten implementation measures, including environmental protection and climate action.
From 27 to 30 May 2024, the 4th International Conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – SIDS4 – was held in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint John’s, under the theme “Charting the Course towards Resilient Prosperity”.
SIDS4 was attended by several Heads of State and Government and more than 3,000 delegates. Over the course of four days, there were 8 plenary meetings, 5 interactive dialogues, a high-level meeting and more than 200 side events. In addition, several other events took place in the days leading up to the conference, such as the Children and Youth Summit, the SIDS Global Business Network and the Forum on Gender Equality and Equity.
One of the main milestones of the conference was the adoption of the new SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) action plan, called the ABAS – Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.
Cabo Verde’s participation
Cabo Verde took part with a delegation led by His Excellency Prime Minister Dr Ulisses Correia e Silva, which included members of the government, senior civil servants and representatives of civil society.
On the last day of SIDS4, the country announced its intention to host the next conference in 2034, SIDS5.
Cabo Verde’s objective for SIDS4 was to ensure active participation, taking into account the government’s aim to operationalise SIDS diplomacy by taking on a more active role, both regionally and internationally, through systematised and strategic action.
The country was one of the vice-presidents of the conference, took part in various official meetings, including the high-level meeting on the mobilisation of resources for SIDS.
Prime Minister was the co-chair of the interactive dialogue on “Investing in human capital: addressing health crisis in SIDS and building the potential of youth in SIDS”. In addition, the delegation was actively involved in various side events and held several bilateral meetings.
At various points, the Prime Minister defended the facilitation of access to funding for SIDS, the operationalisation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (IMV) and the Loss and Damage Fund, the commitment to new funding mechanisms, such as the exchange of debt for climate finance, sharing the example of the agreement signed with Portugal on the conversion of debt into climate finance.
Climate action in the New SIDS Action Plan
Most of the 140 interventions at the SIDS plenary4 expressed deep concern about climate change and called for more ambitious action to combat it.
The New SIDS Action Plan, ABAS, reflects this concern. The document recognises the vulnerability of SIDS to the various impacts of climate change, to the point of posing a serious threat to their survival and viability as a people. The protection of the environment and the sustainability of the planet are among the four priority areas for SIDS for the next decade.
The ABAS provides for four priority development areas and ten implementation measures and is structured in five chapters: 1. the history of SIDS; 2. what SIDS want (identification of four priority areas); 3. how to get there (identification of ten concrete measures); 4. a more effective UN in supporting SIDS; and 5. monitoring and evaluation.
Among the ten concrete measures to achieve “what SIDS want” are the following measures on environmental protection and climate action:
- Step up climate action and support in line with the commitments and obligations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement: take urgent action to maintain the Paris Agreement’s 1. 5°C average temperature increase commitment, support the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, reduce emissions of gases such as methane, and support the implementation of the United Arab Emirates Framework for Global Climate Resilience. 5°C of the Paris Agreement, support the operationalisation and implementation of the United Arab Emirates Framework for Global Climate Resilience, phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, reduce methane emissions by 2030, mobilise and make available more finance and facilitate access to it, activate private sector finance, technically support the development of the carbon market and urgently operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund;
- Step up action on biodiversity: advance the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, including Kunming-Montreal, secure funding and technical support, and operationalise and capitalise the Global Biodiversity Fund;
- Conserve and sustainably use the ocean and its resources: build capacity in SIDS for better ownership and implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, explore innovative financial solutions to drive the transformation to sustainable ocean-based economies, focus on nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches to build resilience, focus on research and innovations, assistance with planning and implementation of management tools based on key areas, and increase funding for the functioning of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf;
- Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): calling for more financial and technical support to prevent and respond to disasters, including building and designing resilient infrastructure, support for improving data collection, governance and management, analysis and assessment of hazards, disaster events and their impacts, including loss and damage;
ABAS represents an important step for SIDS on their journey towards a sustainable and resilient future. However, its effective and successful implementation will require a firm commitment from all stakeholders and robust international partnerships.
For more information on SIDS4, see the following links:
https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/sids2024
https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/n2409990.pdf
https://sids4.gov.ag/
Author
Leinira Lopes Sanches,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration (MNECIR) – Directorate
Economic and Development Co-operation (DGCED)
Focal Point for SIDS and Climate Change