Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda and president of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), presides over the closing ceremony of the conference in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, May 30, 2024. The fourth International Conference on SIDS concluded here on Thursday with the adoption of The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a renewed declaration for resilient prosperity. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States concluded here on Thursday with the adoption of The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a renewed declaration for resilient prosperity.
Encompassing areas such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, biodiversity, energy transition, and digital economy, ABAS aims to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) enhance their economic resilience and achieve sustainable development.
The document emphasizes that for SIDS to achieve resilient prosperity, the international community must scale up climate action and support, including climate finance in line with the existing commitments and obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
It highlights that SIDS can leverage frameworks such as South-South cooperation to mobilize financial, technical, and human resources, while calling for scaling up biodiversity action and the establishment of partnerships based on mutual collaboration, trust and respect.
According to UN statistics, there are a total of 39 SIDS worldwide. The conference is held every 10 years. ■
This photo taken on May 30, 2024 shows the scene of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. The fourth International Conference on SIDS concluded here on Thursday with the adoption of The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a renewed declaration for resilient prosperity. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
