January 2010: The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Unit has released the eighth issue of its “SIDS Newsletter.”

The newsletter elaborates follow-up activities to the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (MSI+5) meeting which concluded in September 2010, and notes that Under-Secretary-General Sha Zukang has initiated follow-up consultations with member States, principals of UN agencies, funds and programmes, and heads of other member organizations of the SIDS Inter-Agency Consultative Group, and that the deadline for providing views and contributions is 11 February 2011.

The newsletter also includes articles on: the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun; the upcoming 19th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 19), convening 2-13 May 2011; the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), highlighting that Elizabeth Thompson, Barbados, has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General as one of two Executive Coordinators; and a Roadmap reflecting events and activities that specifically contribute either to SIDS’ preparations for Rio+20 or to the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action and the MSI. [SIDS Newsletter]