1 November 2010: The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) began its consideration of sustainable development on 1 November in New York, U.S.

Before the Committee were the following documents: the report of the Secretary-General on the five-year review of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (MSI) (document A/65/115); a letter dated 9 September 2010 from the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) addressed to the President of the General Assembly (document A/65/361), which transmits to the Council the independent views and perspectives of the Committee for Development Policy on UN support for SIDS; the report of the Preparatory Committee for the high-level review to assess progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing States (SIDS) through the MSI (document A/Conf.218/PC/1); and the report of the Secretary-General on the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea for present and future generations (document A/65/301).

A number of speakers addressed the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy. Yemen, on behalf of the Group of 77 (G77), urged the international community to honor and scale up its commitments to support SIDS, including those contained in the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA). Papua New Guinea, speaking on behalf of the Pacific SIDS, said the high-level review of the Mauritius Strategy’s implementation (MSI+5) showed that results fell significantly below expectations. He added that the review highlighted the need to go beyond recognition of small island vulnerabilities to implementing more concrete actions, based on a small-island-specific approach. Trinidad and Tobago, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), underscored the importance of continued and enhanced support for the implementation of the BPOA and the MSI.

On governance, Papua New Guinea, speaking on behalf of the Pacific SIDS, urged the UN Secretary-General to give full consideration to the creation of a UN SIDS category with targeted support mechanisms. Thailand said three issues were critical to sustainable development in light of the Millennium Goals relating to biodiversity loss, climate change and the obstacles faced by SIDS: the emergence of a new development paradigm; international environmental governance; and enhanced partnerships.

On finance, Papua New Guinea, speaking on behalf of the Pacific SIDS, expressed concern about the insufficient financial resources available for implementing the Mauritius Strategy, urging donors to take decisive action to increase the resources for small islands as stewards of global goods. Indonesia said SIDS should receive more technical and financial support to address the unique challenges they face. Trinidad and Tobago, speaking on behalf of the CARICOM, stressed that international support for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy is imperative, adding that CARICOM found it unacceptable that member States had debated the unique and particular vulnerabilities of small islands during the five-year review of the Strategy. Japan underscored that his country attached great importance to SIDS, as reflected in its provision of assistance in the areas of environment, climate change, health and education – a total of approximately ¥32.3 billion out of ¥50 billion pledged at the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting.

On climate change, Papua New Guinea, speaking on behalf of the Pacific SIDS, said the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), with Trinidad and Tobago, on behalf of the CARICOM, sought the ultimate stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at well below 350 parts per million carbon dioxide-equivalent levels, and for global average surface temperature increases to be limited to 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels. Papua New Guinea said it was disturbing that current pledges to reduce emissions would likely lead to a rise of 3° to 4° C above pre-industrial levels, warning that such an increase would cause damage far beyond the capacity of Pacific small island States to cope. Finally, he called for the mobilization of fast-start financing commitments. Trinidad and Tobago, on behalf of the CARICOM, expressed disappointment with the “lethargic progress” in implementing the Bali Mandate and discussions for a post-2012 Kyoto regime. She urged all parties to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol to work towards concrete outcomes that would ensure the protection of SIDS. Australia, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand (CANZ), said climate change threatened the very existence of SIDS, which also faced other development challenges, emphasizing the full support of CANZ for the BPOA and MSI. The US recognized the significant threat that climate change posed to small-island development and said it would work with them in adapting to climate change. Cuba called for the equitable settling of the “historical debt” to ecology, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the respective capabilities of different groups of countries. He added that developed countries also must show leadership on reducing emissions.

On the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, also called Rio+20), Trinidad and Tobago said that CARICOM fully supported the convening of the Conference and called on the Secretary-General to ensure that developing countries receive support for their participation in the preparatory process. Singapore, associating with the G77 and ASEAN, said that in order for the UNCSD to have a successful outcome, it would be important to share experiences and lessons learnt in the lead-up to the event. Cuba reiterated its support for Rio+20 as an opportunity to commemorate 20 years of Agenda 21 and to analyze the state of implementation of the agreements reached at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002.

On trade, China stressed that developed countries should open their markets further and create favorable conditions for the trade-for-development efforts of SIDS. [UN Press Release]