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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.

UN News/Matthew Wells

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

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.

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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

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.