Monday 27 May, 14:00 - 15:30, Room 7, American University of Antigua
The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) will be held from 27 to 30 May 2024 in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Under the overarching theme of “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity", the Conference will aim at assessing the ability of SIDS to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. It will result in an intergovernmentally agreed, focused, forward-looking and action-oriented political outcome document.
A side event is being organized by BRS together with partners from diverse sectors. The event will shed light on how preventing pollution from chemicals and waste and promoting circular economy are fundamental to sustainable development of SIDS. Panelists will discuss the importance of implementing international policy frameworks on chemicals and waste and linkages with climate change mitigation and biodiversity preservation. The key role youth in this regard will be highlighted by the Ashley Lashley Foundation. The Global Environment Facility will explain the benefits of its support to 33 SIDS to improve management of toxic chemicals including persistent organic pollutants and mercury. The World Bank will elaborate on circular economy assessment in SIDS and how tackling plastics and pollution in the tourism sector can create innovative employment opportunities, with examples from Cabo Verde. The event will spotlight exciting initiatives for addressing the environment and health impacts of plastics in Antigua and Barbuda and sustainable financing of chemicals and waste management in Belize. The Pacific Regional Environment Programme will showcase initiatives to reduce marine pollution such as a private-public partnership to rid the region from hazardous wastes.