27 September 2012: On the third day of the High-level Debate of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Comoros, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Maldives, and Antigua and Barbuda underscored the importance to small island developing States (SIDS) of addressing climate change. Solomon Islands, Jamaica and Cape Verde addressed other aspects of development in SIDS.

Ikililou Dhoinine, President of Comoros, highlighted ongoing challenges posed by climate change, including heavy rains that have impacted 10% of the Comoros population. He urged other leaders to support his country’s recovery plan and to operationalize the Copenhagen Climate Fund. Emanuel Mori, President of the FSM, called on major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters to “step up” engagement under the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period. He also underscored the importance of conservation and the sustainable use of ocean resources to achieving sustainable development of SIDS, emphasizing commitments on the blue economy, and the 2014 Global Conference on SIDS.

Mohamed Waheed, President of Maldives, said his government currently spends 27% of its budget on improving climate change resilience, and described efforts to transform Maldives into a low-carbon economy. He reiterated calls for a binding agreement to reduce carbon emissions. Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said climate change is being treated with the highest priority in his country, citing efforts to shift the country’s energy supply to wind and water. He supported the call by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) to designate 2014 as the International Year of SIDS to raise awareness of their situation and mobilize international support.

Gordon Darcy Lilo, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, described his country’s efforts to maximize returns from natural resources, including fisheries. He looked forward to taking part in the UN Development Programme (UNDP) consultation on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, highlighted the poverty faced by many people in middle-income countries, which include Caribbean and other SIDS. She called for a review of the factors used to measure countries’ wealth, and supported the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) proposal for an alternative but complementary approach to the criterion of per capita income for the allocation of financing for development.

Jorge Carlos Fonesca, President of Cape Verde, appealed for cancelling external debts of developing countries, particularly SIDS, to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). [Comoros Statement] [Jamaica Statement] [Federated States of Micronesia Statement] [Maldives Statement] [Antigua and Barbuda Statement] [Solomon Islands Statement] [Website of UNGA High-level Debate, 27 September]