At the inaugural session of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Alliance of Small Island States will actively participate to showcase the Group’s commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year’s HLPF marks its first session after the adoption of the Agenda in September last year. It serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda.
Participating in panel discussions and side events during the eight-day session, AOSIS will reiterate the need for a differentiated and targeted support mechanism for SIDS, in order for them to implement the highly ambitious Agenda. AOSIS was integral in inclusion of goals relating to climate action, sustainable use and management of oceans and seas, and important language on importance of baseline data. Further, AOSIS has also called for adequate support and capacity building from the international community, UN development system and international financial institutions.
The HLPF is extremely important to SIDS, more so because it serves as the primary platform for the follow up and review of the SAMOA Pathway - the blueprint for sustainable development of SIDS. The HLPF will hold a dedicated session on 14 July to focus on the needs of SIDS in implementing both the SAMOA Pathway and the new Agenda.
In order to highlight the special needs and challenges of SIDS during the margins of the HLPF, Maldives, as chair of AOSIS, will host a focused one-day session for SIDS, on moving from commitment to implementation. This event will bring together UN development agencies and capital representatives from SIDS to exchange views and experiences in implementing the two agendas, and to address challenges and opportunities moving forward. Maldives, along with the Department of Social and Economic Affairs will also host a lunch dialogue with SIDS, non-SIDS and UN and civil society partners for a conversation on implementing the SAMOA Pathway in SIDS. Additionally, Maldives and Italy, in their capacities as Chair of the Steering Committee on Partnerships for SIDS, with UN-DESA will also hold a partnership dialogue within the Partnership Exchange, to introduce the SIDS Partnership Framework, and discuss partnerships for the sustainable development of SIDS.
His Excellency Mr Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Environment and Energy of the Maldives is leading the Maldives delegation to the HLPF. The HLPF will continue until 20 July 2016.
