The first in a series of Conference side events, the high-level panel on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was held on Saturday. The aim of this event was to present and exchange views promoting food security and nutrition, while also addressing climate change and environmental threats in SIDS. Guests on the panel offering expert insight included the Prime Ministers of Guinea Bissau, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Fiji, in addition to the Director-General. The event also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FAO and the African, Caribbean and-Pacific Group of States (ACP), for renewed partnership.

The event was opened by deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo - herself from the Small Island Developing State Cape Verde. She outlined the common challenges and goals of SIDS with particular reference to the relationship between climate change and nutrition. She expressed sincere gratitude to those who had travelled from far and wide to attend, as well as the governments of Iraq and Libya, without whose generous contributions the event could not have happened. Grenadian ambassador to the U.S. Angus Friday echoed these comments, reflecting on his country’s experiences with climate events such as Hurricane Ivan.

The Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau, Domingos Simões Pereira, was the first guest to speak. Describing his nation’s challenges associated with climate change and beyond, he mentioned the need for an effective and well-resourced early-warning system to mitigate the damage of catastrophic events. Among the country-specific issues he spoke of was a need to increase research and understanding into hydro-sedimentary processes, as well as consistent and accurate monitoring of sea levels and associated factors. He also stressed the need to solve problems through experimentation, working hand-in-hand with SIDS partners.

Indeed, rising sea levels, increasing air and sea surface temperatures, and changing rainfall patterns as well as the impact of natural disasters and the degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems are adding additional pressures to the sustainable development of SIDS. Following Prime Minister Pereira was the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves. The Prime Minister spoke frankly and honestly about national issues. As an island, he said, his home has more seascape than landscape which often means an “inward look with an outward gaze”. The challenges, as he saw them, lie in addressing tensions that arise between the two. He talked about the need for a broad, competitive economy facilitating an education revolution, as well as staying up to speed with global technology developments. Prime Minister Gonsalves also said that targeted, strategic interventions would be the only way to tackle poverty in SIDS with immediacy.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines contributes very little to climate change, yet remains undoubtedly on the frontline with multiple weather events adding to a “chasm of challenges”. The only way to traverse this chasm, Prime Minister Gonsalves said, was with leaps rather than baby steps. Incrementalism is not enough, rather SIDS require a new, fairer global architecture to transform thinking.  

Prime Minister Bainimarama of Fiji followed. He stressed the need to maintain the capacity of his own country and SIDS more broadly to feed the hungry, sustain effective production and implement the best agricultural policies possible. Central to this would be “green growth for a blue economy” to mitigate the effects of climate change, facilitate growth and meet the sustainable development goals.

Closing the event was the Director-General. He thanked all who had travelled to attend, noting to applause that it was the first time at a FAO Conference that representatives from all Pacific Islands were present. He also called attention to the prevalence of climate change in each of the guests’ comments: “Climate change is a recurring theme in our conversations and it is perhaps the most dramatic issue faced by SIDS. It is at the top of the international agenda. And it is central to sustainable development”.

Before signing the MoU, the Director-General drew attention to its significance. “This agreement falls within the context of our renewed partnership with the Small Island Developing States and with Africa. The MoU emphasizes the potential of South-South and Triangular Cooperation and puts a focus on food security and nutrition, family farming, sustainable development, climate change, market information, responsible agricultural investments, and support to the ACP Private Sector Development Strategy”.

“It will allow us to further strengthen our collaboration to overcome the challenges affected by ACP members. I believe that working together is the way forward. You can count on FAO as your partner”.

Side events continue throughout the week.  Check the schedule here.