Madam Chair,

Mr President,

Distinguished Delegates,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 members states of the Pacific Islands Forum with presence here in New York. 

2. We would like to express our thanks to the Chair of the Second Committee and President of the Economic and Social Council for convening this joint meeting.

3. The global pandemic has altered the global development paradigm and the critical economic and social losses that have been sustained call for a change in approach if we are to meet our sustainable development goals by 2030.  For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the road to recovery will be long and needs will continue to increase.

 

SAMOA Pathway

4.  In endorsing the Pacific Sustainable Development Report in 2018, which tracks the Blue Pacific Continent’s progress in realising the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (S.A.M.O.A) Pathway and other global commitments, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders committed to ensuring that sustainable development in the Blue Pacific is achieved in a way that recognises the region’s rich culture, national circumstances, and oceanic resources.

4. Our Leaders recognise the S.A.M.O.A Pathway as an important regional instrument that will help to guide the Pacific sustainable development trajectory.  This SIDS-specific global agenda is being utilised as a guiding reference for the development of our 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which intends to set a long-term vision and strategic pathways for the Pacific.

5. The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders thank our Forum Dialogue Partners and place high regard on the effective and durable partnerships anchored in the SAMOA Pathway.  We welcome the update from member states reflected in SG’s report on the follow-up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

MVI

5. Our group looks forward to the completion of the multidimensional vulnerability index (MVI) as an important tool help our SIDS members adopt more informed policies and strategies for building and sustaining long-term resilience, particularly within a post-COVID 19 recovery lens.

 

CLIMATE FINANCE

6. In 2016, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders endorsed the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific: An integrated approach to address climate and disaster risk management for more resilient development in the Pacific (FRDP).  The Framework is a global first, whereby the Pacific is seeking to reduce our exposure to climate and disaster risk, support low carbon development and improve disaster response and reconstruction.

7. Within the Pacific Resilience Partnership, multiple stakeholders are engaging in resilience building through incorporating ecosystem management, addressing root causes of vulnerability and looking to strengthen preparedness in addition to promoting low carbon development.

8. Forum Leaders have endorsed the Pacific Resilience Facility.  It is the only facility of its kind that is led by the region and focused on the communities of the Blue Pacific. The PRF is a self-sustaining financial model and once we have achieved a fund of US$1.5 billion, the PRF will pay for itself.

9. The Pacific Islands Forum is reaching out to key donors, partners, and development partners to seek their support to capitalise the PRF.

10.  We also call for developed countries to fulfil the goal of mobilising USD$100 billion annually in climate finance to support the needs of developing nations.

 

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

11.  The member states of the Pacific Island Forum support the shift within the United Nations development system from an ‘ad hoc’ to a more programmatic approach which allows for predictable development financing.  We urge further action, including through south south cooperation, to share best-practice, scale up and develop capacity in order to promote cooperation among the countries in areas including vaccine equity, digitalisation, climate resilience, social protection, poverty eradication, regional cooperation and participation in global value chains.

12. Pacific Leaders in 2017 endorsed the Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development to promote national and regional ownership to deliver sustainable development through the use of Pacific expertise, scaling up and expanding regional cooperation through a consultative and country-driven process, and is premised on the underlying principle of leaving no one behind.

13. Through our ongoing cooperation initiatives, the Blue Pacific region is in a better position to understand what works and what does not in bringing about more effective use and accountability for all development resources including ODA, climate financing and other sources of domestic and private financing.

 

I thank you.