Making the 2030 Agenda deliver for SIDS, building on the SAMOA Pathway
Thursday, 14 July 2016
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Trusteeship Chamber
Official meeting
Statements
Statements
Building on the SAMOA Pathway, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development called for special attention to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as they face unique vulnerabilities in their sustainable development. They are faced with various challenges due to their small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to global environmental challenges and external economic shocks. SIDS are on the frontline experiencing the effects of climate change and they have limited financial resources and capacity to cope with these physical, social and economic impacts.
In the SAMOA Pathway, Member States recognized that “the adverse impacts of climate change compound existing challenges in small island developing States and have placed additional burdens on their national budgets and their efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals” . This was reaffirmed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Oceans play a central role in the culture of SIDS, and at the same time is tightly linked to their economies. The devastating climate change impacts on oceans, such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification and the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, make SIDS more vulnerable, as most island lives and livelihoods are built on oceans.
It is important to ensure the synergies between the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda, focusing on strengthening the resilience of SIDS, in order to achieve their sustainable development and to eradicate poverty. Many SIDS are archipelagos with islands scattered within a country. It is therefore crucial to have a robust mechanism for coordination and strengthened means of implementation to ensure that no one is left behind. This session will identify synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the SAMOA Pathway and the best possible ways to overcome special challenges of SIDS in achieving their sustainable development.
Possible questions for discussion:
- What are the most important inter-linkages between the 2030 Agenda and the SAMOA Pathway?
- What are the major challenges and needs for SIDS in the implementation of both of the 2030 Agenda and SAMOA Pathway?
- How can national institutions and means of implementation be strengthened in SIDS to deliver the 2030 Agenda while ensuring that no one is left behind?
Chair:
- H.E. Mr. Sven Jürgenson, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN and Vice President of ECOSOC
Moderator:
- Ms. H. Elizabeth Thompson, Former UN Assistant Secretary General and Executive Coordinator for Rio+20 and former Minister for Energy and Environment of Barbados
Speakers:
- Mr. Anote Tong, Former President of the Republic of Kiribati
- Mr. David Smith, Coordinator at the University of Consortium for Small Island States, and the Institute for Sustainable Development, the University of the West Indies
Lead discussants:
- Ms. Justina Langidrik, Chief Secretary of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Ms. Kate Brown, Executive Director of the Global Island Partnership
H.E. Ms. H. Elizabeth Thompson
Former UN Assistant Secretary General and Executive Coordinator for Rio+20 and former Minister for Energy and Environment of Barbados
As presenter of the 2019 HLPF in the session of “Report of the STI Forum” and the Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Henrietta Elizabeth Thompson, presented her credentials to UN Secretary General António Guterres today. A former Minister in the Government of Barbados, Ms. Thompson was most recently interim Executive Director of the State University of New York University of the West Indies Centre for Leadership and Sustainable Development from 2016 to 2017. She was Senior Adviser to the United Nations Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2014 and 2015, and as Special Adviser to the President of the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, she served as a high level consultant on the post 2015 development agenda to the Executive Office of the Secretary General and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Prior to that, she was an Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as the Rio+20 Conference, from 2010 to 2012. From 1994 to 1999, and again from 2001 to 2008, she held several ministerial posts, including as Minister for Environment, Energy, Housing and Lands, Physical Development and Planning, and Health. Ms. Thompson holds four university degrees, among them a master’s degree in law from Robert Gordon University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Liverpool, both in the United Kingdom.
Mr. David Smith
Coordinator at the University of Consortium for Small Island States
Dr. Smith has 28 years’ post-doctoral experience in academia, civil society, the private sector and the United Nations; focussing on Conservation, Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Financing and Disaster Risk Reduction. He is the Coordinator of the Institute for Sustainable Development at The University of the West Indies which focuses on addressing Sustainable Development problems in Caribbean SIDS. He focuses on disaster risk reduction and the Green Economy. Before moving to the University, he was the Assistant Resident Representative in the Jamaica Office of UNDP responsible for the programme in Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management. From 1994-2000, he was an IUCN Regional Councillor for North America and the Caribbean and the Chair of the Business Committee of IUCN’s Council. Dr Smith served on the Board of the Caribbean Conservation Association for five years and was President in 1995.
Ms. Justina Langidrik
Chief Secretary of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Mrs. Justina Langidrik, Chief Secretary and head of the public service in the Marshall Islands, has worked with the Government of the Marshall Islands public sector for over 30 years. She has 20 years of experience in Health Education where she served as Health Educator and later as Director of Health Education. She assumed the role of Assistant Secretary of Health for Primary Health Care (PHC). She worked progressively within the health sector and assumed leadership of the Ministry of Health as Secretary of Health for more than 10 years.
In 2014, Mrs. Langidrik was appointed as Interim Chief Secretary. As the head of the public service of the Marshall Islands, tasks include oversight of all sectors of the public service of the Marshall Islands, and currently serves as Chairperson for the Budget Coordinating Committee and the National Steering Committee on Public Finance Management (PFM).
The Office of the Chief Secretary leads coordination and implementation of the Joint National Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Plan for the Marshall Islands, and will lead implementation of the SDGs in country in line with the National Strategic Plan (NSP) and sector plans.
Ms. Kate Brown
Executive Director, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)
Ms. Kate Brown is the Executive Director of the Global Island Partnership, a platform that enables island leaders and their supporters to take action to build resilient and sustainable island communities. Ms. Brown is a passionate advocate for islands. She is a valued and trusted international partnership and collaboration leader, with a unique ability to connect dots for issues and people. Ms. Brown has extensive experience in all island regions globally, and brings an extensive network of island leaders, blue sky thinkers and people dedicated to supporting islands. She has experience working inside government, non profits and intergovernmentally as well as a keen sense of the most important elements of the international policy setting space relevant to islands as well as what is needed for implementation to happen. A strategic thinker who is able to present clear ideas and set up the right conditions for collaboration to thrive.
