Mr. President
Co-Chairs
Excellencies
Colleagues
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States
(AOSIS). We align our statement with the statement delivered by Pakistan on behalf of the Group
of 77 and China and wishes to recognize the co-chairing efforts of the Government of Finland and
Egypt for this interactive session.
Mr. President,
The current challenges facing the world and in particular small island developing states requires
increased collective actions if we are to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
Increased collective actions must be accompanied by enhanced collective commitments. Meaning,
the vision Fifty years ago for environmental action, and the aspirations of the 2014 SAMOA
Pathway and those of 2015 that adopted the 2030 agenda requires a new approach. Approaches
such as enhanced national determined contributions that are seen as bold compliments to the Paris
Agreement are worthwhile exploring.
Mr. President,
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in our multilateral system and our ability to confront these
new challenges without little delay.
Accelerating the implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development
requires innovation at the national and global levels. Access to and transfer of technology is critical
in order for SIDS to achieve environmental sustainability. While the developed world and
advanced economies were able to adapt to the new realities of the pandemic by moving their
workforce and learning capabilities remotely, small states lingered behind. The lack of capacity
currently affects our ability to fully recover from the global shut down.
Additionally, the means of implementation and finance is significant for the environmental pillar
of sustainable development. A sustainable recovery from the pandemic in the face of
environmental degradation entails guaranteeing that the 100 billion climate finance goal is
delivered and a recommitment to new and additional climate finance is delivered that takes into
account our special circumstances as SIDS and recognition of the importance of considering
vulnerability in climate finance allocation as outlined in the Glasgow Pact.
Mr. President
From all indicators, the world is emerging from the pandemic, but not all countries are recovering
at the same pace and level. let us use this opportunity to think big, to be bold and design a global
recovery mechanism that is inclusive of all, and that is environmentally sustainable. Resiliency
must be the bedrock of all recovery efforts. Economic growth, prosperity for all and eliminating
inequality must be at the forefront of this process.
The relationship to sustainable development and nature must be one that allows small states to
press forward with our national development policies and plans that are country led, country owned
and sustainable, while safeguarding the environment.
In order for a truly global recovery, we must strengthen multilateral institutions that are targeted
and fit for purpose. They must deliver economically, socially, and environmentally for SIDS and
must interlink the remaining two years of the SAMOA Pathway and the remaining eight years of
the SDGs in a coordinated manner that brings lasting solutions to our small and low-lying states.
I Thank You.