Small Island Developing States lead the way in saving our oceans
Our oceans are earth’s largest ecosystem and their role in lives cannot be overstated. They are home to a vast array of life; absorb 25% of global annual C02 emissions; feed communities both on the water’s edge and well inland; and are a major source of trade and economic development. And like the rest of the planet, they are under siege. Leading culprits include plastic and marine pollution, over-fishing, acidification, and ocean warming.
During the 2022 Ocean’s Conference, UNOSSC organized a side-event on Leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation to advance the Blue Economy Agenda in Small Island Developing Nations (SIDS). The event was designed to raise awareness of SIDS vulnerabilities, increase support for SDGs relevant to the ocean agenda and promote more such partnerships and initiatives.
The discussion provided a useful guide to understanding key priority areas and how South-South and triangular cooperation can support the advancement of the Blue Economy Agenda in SIDS. A variety of partnership opportunities were proffered during the event. These included targeted technology transfers and accelerated capacity building; international cooperation in the areas of research, infrastructure, access, and capacity to help overcome technology gaps both within countries and social; and the need for governments to promote necessary technology transfers by collaborating across borders, including through South-South cooperation.
The event served as a platform to start informing and preparing UNOSSC for the upcoming discussions for the new outcome document for the 4th International Conference on SIDS, which will be held in 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda.
“The health of our oceans affects us all, both those who derive their livelihoods from their waters and those enjoy their bounty,” said H.E Mr. Ravindra Raguttahalli, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. “Through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, India will continue to support the world’s SIDS and will use the power of South-South cooperation to help them achieve their development and socio-economic needs”.
This commitment and enthusiasm to supports SIDS and the Ocean’s agenda is not new to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. In June 2017, the UN held the first annual Oceans Conference, a vital component of its global effort to achieve SDG14, to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development”. And it was then, on the margins of the Conference, that the India-UN Development Partnership Fund was launched.
Since its founding, the Fund has prioritized support for SIDS in their specific and unique development needs, vulnerabilities, and pathways to sustainable development. Indeed, the Fund’s inaugural programme was the investment in early warning systems for small island nations. Today, SIDS are the most active and well-represented partners in the Fund with 28 of the current 49 countries (57%) classified as SIDS.
One partner country, Palau, was scheduled to host the 2020 Conference in what would have been an ideal forum for ocean leaders to commit to positive changes related to protected ocean areas, the climate crisis, and a sustainable blue economy in a nation vulnerable to the challenges of the climate crisis. In preparation for hosting 100s of world leaders, government official, climate activists and development professionals, the India-UN Fund provided support to the Government, in partnership with UNOPS, to refurbish the physical infrastructure to be used for the conference.
But, as with so many things, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the postponement of the live event. Despite the setback, the work was completed and is now benefitting the community college students, patients of the community health centre and the users of various public facilities.
Produced and edited by UNOSSC/UNDP.
