Conferences of the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States – SIDS

Small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal areas are uniquely vulnerable to climate change impacts and other environmental pressures. This was recognized by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1989, when it passed resolution 44/206 on the possible adverse effects of sea-level rise on islands and low-lying coastal areas. The 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, brought the special case of small island developing states (SIDS) to international attention when it adopted Agenda 21, a programme of action for sustainable development.

SIDS rely on a narrow resource base, depend on imports, face high energy costs, are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, and have fragile environments. To address these realities, Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 called for convening a global conference on the sustainable development of SIDS. The first UN Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS was held in Barbados in 1994 and adopted the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS. Subsequent global conferences were held in Mauritius in 2005 and in Samoa in 2014.