Mr. President of the General Assembly,Excellencies,Distinguished Delegates and participants,Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to begin my remarks with words of gratitude to you, Mr. President, for your strong leadership in this High-level Review of the SAMOA Pathway. I also thank the Co-chairs and Moderators of the multi-stakeholder round tables for their able stewardship and to all keynote speakers and discussants for their substantive contributions to the proceedings. Indeed, this High-level Review succeeded in implementing its mandate “to conduct a thorough assessment of the progress made, lessons learned and constraints encountered in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway”.
I also extend my deep appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of Fiji and Ireland, Ambassador Prasad and Ambassador Byrne Nason. Throughout the intergovernmental consultations, they have exhibited their invaluable skills as co-facilitators on the draft political declaration as the outcome of this high-level review. Thanks to their dedicated efforts, Member States reached consensus on the draft outcome document, which you are about to endorse.
Excellencies,
We come to the closing of a significant meeting. Your deliberations have advanced our collective commitment to deliver on the SAMOA Pathway. I would like to share three key messages from the Review.
First, we must acknowledge our achievements and implementation gaps.
During the preparatory process, you demonstrated that international cooperation is alive. Working together, you have undertaken in-depth reviews of progress made in implementing the SAMOA Pathway. As a result, the inter-governmentally agreed Political Declaration before you:
Second, we must commit to accelerating actions to address challenges ahead of us.
SIDS are a special case for sustainable development. They face multiple challenges arising from their geographical remoteness, the small scale of their economies, high costs and adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters, among others. The international community must continue to support SIDS in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.
As their incomes grow, SIDS face significant challenges in accessing affordable financing – including concessional financing – for their sustainable development. There is a need to improve methodologies to better account for transition challenges of SIDS for those who graduate from the LDC status. We have to ensure that the graduation does not disrupt their development progress. At the same time, innovative and sustainable private sources of financing for SIDS should be explored.
Two major United Nations conferences next year – the second Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Beijing, and the 2020 UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon – will provide additional opportunities to advance sustainable development of SIDS. These include such priority areas as conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. The conferences will also serve to mobilize and promote durable multi-stakeholder partnerships and initiatives in support of SIDS.
Third, we must strengthen accountability for our actions and results to ensure that even the smallest and most vulnerable countries are not left behind in our global pursuit of sustainable development.
That is the aim of the SAMOA Pathway. Its comprehensive framework is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is also in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Moreover, our focus is to reinforce new partnerships and initiatives going forward with the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.
Excellencies,Ladies and Gentlemen,
In concluding, I wish to assure all of you that my Department, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, places great importance in our continued support to the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States.
Indeed, the ambition and breadth of the Sustainable Development Goals makes them beyond our reach without genuine and durable partnerships in support of SIDS – the cornerstone of the SAMOA Pathway. We will continue, together with Partners, to mobilize support to this end.
Thank you.
I would like to begin my remarks with words of gratitude to you, Mr. President, for your strong leadership in this High-level Review of the SAMOA Pathway. I also thank the Co-chairs and Moderators of the multi-stakeholder round tables for their able stewardship and to all keynote speakers and discussants for their substantive contributions to the proceedings. Indeed, this High-level Review succeeded in implementing its mandate “to conduct a thorough assessment of the progress made, lessons learned and constraints encountered in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway”.
I also extend my deep appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of Fiji and Ireland, Ambassador Prasad and Ambassador Byrne Nason. Throughout the intergovernmental consultations, they have exhibited their invaluable skills as co-facilitators on the draft political declaration as the outcome of this high-level review. Thanks to their dedicated efforts, Member States reached consensus on the draft outcome document, which you are about to endorse.
Excellencies,
We come to the closing of a significant meeting. Your deliberations have advanced our collective commitment to deliver on the SAMOA Pathway. I would like to share three key messages from the Review.
First, we must acknowledge our achievements and implementation gaps.
During the preparatory process, you demonstrated that international cooperation is alive. Working together, you have undertaken in-depth reviews of progress made in implementing the SAMOA Pathway. As a result, the inter-governmentally agreed Political Declaration before you:
- recognizes and welcomes implementation successes,
- consolidates actions around priority areas, and
- reaffirms commitments to solutions for the sustainable development of SIDS.
Second, we must commit to accelerating actions to address challenges ahead of us.
SIDS are a special case for sustainable development. They face multiple challenges arising from their geographical remoteness, the small scale of their economies, high costs and adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters, among others. The international community must continue to support SIDS in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.
As their incomes grow, SIDS face significant challenges in accessing affordable financing – including concessional financing – for their sustainable development. There is a need to improve methodologies to better account for transition challenges of SIDS for those who graduate from the LDC status. We have to ensure that the graduation does not disrupt their development progress. At the same time, innovative and sustainable private sources of financing for SIDS should be explored.
Two major United Nations conferences next year – the second Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Beijing, and the 2020 UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon – will provide additional opportunities to advance sustainable development of SIDS. These include such priority areas as conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. The conferences will also serve to mobilize and promote durable multi-stakeholder partnerships and initiatives in support of SIDS.
Third, we must strengthen accountability for our actions and results to ensure that even the smallest and most vulnerable countries are not left behind in our global pursuit of sustainable development.
That is the aim of the SAMOA Pathway. Its comprehensive framework is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is also in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Moreover, our focus is to reinforce new partnerships and initiatives going forward with the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.
Excellencies,Ladies and Gentlemen,
In concluding, I wish to assure all of you that my Department, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, places great importance in our continued support to the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States.
Indeed, the ambition and breadth of the Sustainable Development Goals makes them beyond our reach without genuine and durable partnerships in support of SIDS – the cornerstone of the SAMOA Pathway. We will continue, together with Partners, to mobilize support to this end.
Thank you.
File date:
Friday, September 27, 2019