The Maldives says that the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States presents a pivotal moment for global partnership to build resilience and improve the life of the peoples of SIDS. The statement was delivered by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations while speaking today at the First Preparatory Committee meeting of the Third SIDS Conference held at the UN headquarters.
He said that although SIDS have made great strides in sustainable development, the negative impacts of climate change have threatened to erode the development gains achieved and have increasingly made progress harder all along the way. The Government of Maldives, for example, is currently spending more than 27% of its national budget to build resilience to combat the effects of climate change. Therefore, he stressed that, SIDS “need to take strong steps to safeguard and sustainably develop [its] natural resources while building resilience against climate change”.
Ambassador Sareer noted that twenty-two years have passed since the United Nations had first recognized SIDS as a distinct group of developing countries facing specific social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities, and yet the international community have been faltering or even regressing, rather than living up to its commitments.
Ambassador Sareer highlighted priority areas for the Maldives at the SIDS Conference, as climate change, issues of water and sanitation, non-communicable diseases, trans-boundary pollutants and energy security.
Noting that 2014 being the International Year of Small Island Developing States, Ambassador Sareer stated that the Third SIDS Conference would be a continuous reminder not only of the unique and particular vulnerabilities of these countries but also of their diverse and vibrant cultures.
