Global Roundtable for The World Summit on Sustainable Development

Vulnerability and Small Island Developing States;
Exploring Mechanisms for Partnerships

Montego Bay, Jamaica
9-10 May 2002

 


Background

Although many SIDS have made substantial strides in economic growth, social development, and environmental conservation, their small size, isolation, susceptibility to natural disasters, and ecological fragility, means that such progress will always be precarious. SIDS are estimated to be 34% economically more vulnerable than other developing countries, largely because of their exposure to natural disasters and high level of export concentration. The constraints on SIDS’ sustainable development are well documented in Agenda 21 in the SIDS Programme of Action (SIDS POA) , the 1994 Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, in the decisions adopted at the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly (1999), in the 2002 World Social Summit for Sustainable Development Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (paragraph 52), and in the 2005 Mauritius Declaration and Strategy of Implementation.

Objectives

This Round Table aimed to mobilize new political commitments and forge partnerships to reduce small islands' vulnerabilities, mainly through further implementation of the SIDS POA. It also attempted to rally international organizations to champion a renewed framework for implementation of the SIDS POA. Goals included;

Forge and cement strategic partnerships relevant to SIDS vulnerability issues.

Identify pressing social, economic and environmental issues linked to the vulnerability of SIDS and requiring urgent remedial action.

Generate high level political commitments to support concrete and targeted actions aimed at building SIDS capacities to tackle their ecological fragility and economic vulnerability.

Secure commitments concrete strategic partnerships to help address vulnerability issues within SIDS.