Vast portions of the ocean, rich in marine biodiversity, are managed by small island developing states (SIDS). SIDS communities are highly dependent on the marine environment for food security, and for tourism and fisheries-based economies. Their cultural identities are inextricably linked to the ocean. SIDS, which also support exceptional terrestrial biodiversity, are uniquely vulnerable to the compounding impacts of climate change, despite their limited contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Impacts include ocean acidification, disruptions to migratory marine life, severe erosion and flooding, increasingly frequent and extreme weather events, and the existential threat of sea-level rise. For many of these island nations, a fragile infrastructure, along with limited access to financial resources and technical capacity, pose major barriers for climate change adaptation.

The international community acknowledged the special case of SIDS at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), and called for a global conference on the sustainable development of SIDS. This first conference, which took place in Barbados in 1994, adopted the Barbados Programme of Action (1994). The second conference in 2004 adopted the Mauritius Strategy, and the third conference in 2014 adopted the SAMOA Pathway. This 4th Conference, convened under the theme, “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity,” built on the previous three.

Developments under other multilateral environmental fora will provide important context for this meeting, including: ongoing review of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals at the High-level Political Forum, with a focus on SIDS’ challenges and achievements; launch of the UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030) as a global framework for ocean science, innovation, and a more sustainable ocean; the negotiations on a legally binding international treaty to address plastic pollution; adoption of the agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction; and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) decision to establish a dedicated “loss and damage” fund to support especially vulnerable countries dealing with climate change.

The main outcome document of the conference was the subject of negotiations by a Preparatory Committee that met twice at UN Headquarters in New York in January and April 2024. The zero draft was developed following a series of regional preparatory meetings that identifies priorities and areas for action, which were held during July and August 2023 in each of the three SIDS regions (Caribbean, Pacific, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea(AIS), as well as an interregional preparatory meeting in Cabo Verde in August-September 2023.

The fourth SIDS Conference adopted this new programme of action with specific targets for SIDS sustainable development over the next decade. The conference also featured five interactive and multi-stakeholder dialogues to address current and emerging challenges and opportunities for sustainable development, under the following themes:

• revitalizing SIDS economies for accelerated and sustainable growth;
• enhancing critical forms of financing and aid effectiveness through collaborative partnerships: a conversation;
• making climate finance work for SIDS: building on the outcomes of UNFCCC COP 28;
• leveraging data and digital technologies and building effective institutions for a resilient future; and
• investing in human capital: addressing health crisis in SIDS and building the potential of youth in SIDS.

The Conference, which convened from 27-30 May 2024 in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda, brought together world leaders, partners, civil society, private sector, academia, youth and other stakeholders.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Teya Penniman; Daniel Bertram; Keith Ripley; and Joyce Melcar Tan. The Digital Editor was Diego Noguera. The Editor was Pam Chasek, Ph.D.