Foreign Affairs Minister EP Chet Greene emphasized the critical need for broad-based support from various sectors to advance the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) agenda.

During the first press conference of the conference, alongside Secretary General Li Junhua and Special Adviser Rabab Fatima, Minister Greene underscored the significance of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

He stressed the urgency of addressing the harsh reality that traditional approaches to resolving the challenges faced by SIDS have been ineffective. Minister Greene highlighted the pressing need for immediate action, as some islands are at risk of disappearing due to rising sea levels.

He emphasized the necessity for a transformative shift in approach and full adoption of the new 10-year framework for international cooperation outlined in the Antigua Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.

The 28-page ABAS document outlines the requirements of SIDS from the international community, including strengthening health systems, achieving gender equality, enhancing food security and nutrition, and ensuring environmental and planetary sustainability.

Additionally, the ABAS presents a ten-point program of action to support SIDS in building a sustainable future.

Minister Greene also highlighted the opportunity to support groundbreaking initiatives such as the SIDS Center of Excellence and the SIDS Debt Support Service Initiative during the conference. He emphasized that these programs are not bureaucratic solutions but essential lifelines for SIDS, and supporting these initiatives sets a precedent for global cooperation and support.

Responding to questions about the realistic expectations for concrete action arising from the conference, Minister Greene called on all parties to support the initiative and hold developed nations and businesses accountable.

He emphasized the importance of global leaders’ presence at the conference in Antigua and Barbuda as a demonstration of their commitment to the process.

Minister Greene emphasized that the ABAS has been reviewed by stakeholders and is deemed practical, actionable, and transformative.

He stressed that achieving the desired change cannot be solely the responsibility of governments or the United Nations; stakeholders making pledges must also be held accountable through responsible reporting.