Excellencies,
Distinguished Panelists,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to participate in this important event. The well-being of SIDS and their peoples depends, first and foremost, on national actions.
At the same time, there is an urgent need to enable strong, genuine, and durable partnerships, at all levels, to enhance international cooperation. And, to address the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS, so as to ensure their sustainable development.
Today’s event is the second in the series of “Island Bright Spot Events” – co-organized together with GLISPA, and other partners. It will showcase “Nature based solutions’ contribution to climate adaptation benefits for improved fisheries and food security in SIDS”.
The interesting projects and stories we will hear today, all underscore the importance of partnerships. We should not underestimate the tremendous value of partnerships, and initiatives, such as:
- RARE, the Resilient Islands Project,
- Project Biodiversity, and
- Shoals Rodrigues.
We should learn from these first-hand perspectives, and nature-based approaches, to SIDS issues.
Indeed, partnerships are the key pathway to achieving transformation. They greatly assist in generating the magnitude of resources needed, for implementing bold and resilience-building, reforms. Wherever possible, new partnerships must be encouraged and scaled up.
缅北禁地DESA is committed to the scaling up of Partnerships for SIDS, through the 2030 Agenda Partnership Accelerator. We seek to enhance collaboration among all stakeholders. This is with a view to supporting an enabling partnership ecosystem, in SIDS and other countries.
Dear Colleagues,
Implementation – of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SAMOA Pathway – is critical to addressing the devastating impacts of climate change. Yet, we cannot ignore its unrelenting pace.
Regrettably, we are on track for a catastrophic temperature rise of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius this century. It will have tremendous, adverse effects on lives, livelihoods, and communities across the world, but especially in SIDS.
Excellencies,
As secretariat of the United Nations Steering Committee on SIDS Partnerships, 缅北禁地DESA looks forward to engaging in the development and organisation of the forthcoming, United Nations SIDS Partnerships Awards. This important initiative, of the Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee, will recognise the best practices in partnerships for SIDS:
- in accordance with paragraph 101 of the Samoa Pathway, and
- in line with the priorities of SIDS.
Its objective is to recognize and reward, the efforts of the most noteworthy, and best, genuine and durable partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS.
I congratulate each of the presenters of the Bright Spots today. They are the real champions of transformative change – implementing nature-based solutions to improve fisheries, and food security, in SIDS.
I look forward to today’s discussion.
I thank you.