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UN News
Global perspective Human stories

SIDS4

4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States
27-30 May 2024 | Antigua and Barbuda

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Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are in the crossfires of multiple crises: climate change, the socio-economic repercussions of COVID-19, and a crisis of debt. Global lockdowns left large holes in islands’ coffers and severely set back efforts to invest in the Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, climate action is becoming increasingly urgent, as weather-related disasters have doubled in two decades: with island nations both most vulnerable and least responsible.

At this time of great peril, opportunity must be seized. In Antigua and Barbuda from 27 to 30 May 2024, the international community will gather for the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), to review SIDS’ sustainable development progress and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to supercharge their path to resilient prosperity.

UN News will have a team in St. Johns, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, to give you a front row seat to all the action. From your mobile phone or computer, follow the key events and discussions as the delegates SIDS4 work towards an agreed, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented political outcome document.

Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of the environmental management organization SPREP, who attended the SIDS4 conference in Antigua and Barbuda.
UN News/Matt Wells

Time for big plastic producers to walk the talk on cutting pollution

Interviews

The plastics industry needs to show more responsibility and put their money where their mouth is on cutting harmful waste and pollution, especially as it impacts small island States.

That’s according to Director General of the Pacific islands environment agency, SPREP, Sefanaia Nawadra of Fiji, who told UN News the outcome document adopted at last week’s SIDS4 conference in Antigua and Barbuda does not go far enough on ocean management and cutting pollution.

Audio
5'34"
Lovena Preeyadarshini Mangroo, of the Indian Ocean Commission, speaking at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda.
UN News/Matt Wells

SIDS4: Indian Ocean health expert lauds ‘political commitment’ to take action

Interviews

A medical epidemiologist working with the Indian Ocean Commission’s One Health initiative says that the number of ministers from small island States attending this week’s SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda shows there is real “political commitment” to take urgent action.

Dr. Lovena Preeyadarshini Mangroo of Mauritius says although all five island nations that make up the Commission have similar problems, each country is different and must be properly understood before prevention and response plans to head of epidemics and other health risks can be put in place.

Audio Duration
3'22"
International development expert Claire Nelson at the SIDS4 conference who took part in a side event on artistic expression and technology in cultural tourism.
UN News/Matt Wells

From Belafonte to Rihanna, the Caribbean has ‘transformed culture’

Interviews

They may be small islands in size – but the countries of the Caribbean are huge exporters of culture and need to remind younger generations at home of why they should feel proud of where they come from.

That’s according to Claire Nelson, a Jamaican based in the United States and founder of the advocacy-based Institute of Caribbean Studies, who’s been attending this week’s SIDS4 conference taking place on the twin island of Antigua and Barbuda.

Audio
10'38"
SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit delegate Renee Smith (left) after completing her section of the “wall of commitment” to be presented to the SIDS4 conference.
UN News/Matthew Wells

Walling off damage from climate change, one brick at a time

Interviews

Youth activists have been meeting on the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda this weekend to ensure their voices and call for action is heard loud and clear by world leaders assembling for the SIDS4 conference.

With their personal “wall of commitment” around 80 passionate young changemakers attending the SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit have been committing themselves to more action and taking the long view that the climate crisis is make or break for their generation of small islanders.

Audio
9'9"
Delegates to the SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit including Adelaide Nafoi of Samoa (second from left) after completing their section of the “wall of commitment”.
UN News/ Matthew Wells

In Antigua, island youth build ‘wall of commitment’ to turn tide against climate crisis

Economic Development

It may be built out of recyclable cardboard boxes, but when world leaders officially open the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) on Monday, one of the manifestations of young people’s hopes for a better future that will greet them is a solid “wall of commitment” imploring them to take more action against the ravages of climate change.