We, the Heads of State and Government and representatives of AOSIS express great
satisfaction with the agreement on the special provisions contained in Chapter VII of the
draft Plan of Implementation for the WSSD on the sustainable development of Small
Island Developing States. The section elaborates the special case for Small Island
Developing States in the context of sustainable development.
6. We note with appreciation the substantive and constructive role that AOSIS
delegations have played throughout the WSSD and its preparatory process.
7. We acknowledge the continued efforts of Small Island Developing States for
sustainable development and the need for full and effective implementation of Chapter
VII. The experience of the past decade reveals considerable constraints now exacerbated
by, amongst other things, increasing vulnerability and the emerging challenges of
HIV/AIDS, poverty, climate change, continued environmental degradation, trade and
economic marginalisation and the need to harness the opportunities provided by the
rapidly advancing information and communication technologies.
8. We express our determination to put in place a long-term strategy for the effective
implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action in order to overcome these
constraints and achieve sustainable development through national action, regional
cooperation and international support. We commit ourselves to sustainable development
that is effective and irreversible. This will require particular attention to capacity
building, resource mobilisation, securing adequate health standards and job creation.
9. We reviewed the current concerns to Small Island Developing States, and highlight the
following as particularly pressing:
i. We recognize that the special case for Small Island Developing States in
environment and development captures the unique circumstances of the
vulnerability of Small Island Developing States. Developing the capacity to
manage vulnerability, strengthen food security and build resilience to
economic, social and environmental shocks is urgent and we call on the
international community to support the efforts of Small Island Developing
States;
ii. In respect of capacity building we reiterate our call for the international
community to support and strengthen existing and new capacity building
efforts of Small Island Developing States in all their aspects, and to strengthen
co-operation among Small Island Developing States;
iii. We urge the international community to put in place appropriate mechanisms
to support Small Island Developing States in their efforts to adjust to
globalization and trade liberalization, and call on the WTO to recognize the
special situation of Small Island Developing States and ensure that in the
elaboration of its Work Program on Small Economies as a follow-up to the
Doha Ministerial Declaration it takes due account of the difficulties
encountered by Small Island Developing States including effective
operationalization of special and differential treatment and capacity building
initiatives, and in this respect we welcome the provision made in the draft
Plan of Implementation of WSSD for small economies;
iv. Water is essential for life. The economic and social wellbeing of Small Island
Developing States are dependent upon the quality and quantity of fresh water
and adequate sanitation, and we call on the international community to
support the development and strengthening of capacity to effectively manage
the water and sanitation sectors which is constrained by small size and limited
human resources and inadequate infrastructure;
v. We are deeply concerned about the adverse impacts of climate change and
sea-level rise that are already being experienced by Small Island Developing
States and the severe hardships associated with increasing climate variability,
and call for urgent international and domestic action to address climate change
and its
consequences, including the early ratification, entry into force and
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, greater public awareness and
mobilization of resources for adaptation;
vi. The protection and preservation of the biological diversity of Small Island
Developing States is urgent and we call for international assistance to enhance
the capability of Small Island Developing States to promote the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity;
vii. We recognize the increasing impacts, including costs and loss of lives, of
natural disasters in Small Island Developing States and urge the international
community to support efforts to develop and strengthen national and regional
capacities for the assessment, early warning and mitigation of these impacts;
viii. Land degradation and drought, and the consequences of the loss of
agricultural production seriously compromise efforts to achieve poverty
reduction and the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States,
and we urge the international community to increase its financial and
technical support to the implementation of initiatives under the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification;
ix. We are resolved to seek and to establish global sustainable energy
partnerships that can ensure that adequate, affordable and environmentally
safe energy is available to promote the sustainable development of Small
Island Developing States, and promote renewable energy and energy
efficiency;
x. We recognize that as custodians of vast ocean areas Small Island Developing
States have special responsibilities. Technological and financial assistance is
required to ensure that Small Island Developing States are able to manage
their ocean areas, including the sustainable development of ocean resources
and the protection of ocean health, and the provision of the means for
monitoring and controlling the use of coastal and marine resources;
xi. We acknowledge that tourism is one of the most important economic sectors
in most of our countries. Nevertheless, many environmental, cultural and
socially degrading effects of tourism are adversely impacting Small Island
Developing States, and we call on all countries to re-commit themselves to the
principles of sustainable tourism, with an emphasis on product
diversification, and for programmes of implementation, along the lines
adopted in stakeholder communities in Small Island Developing States;
xii. We urge the multilateral development financial community to consider
augmenting the quantum of resources devoted to financing sustainable
development and in this connection we urge the developed partners to be
more responsive to agreed official development assistance targets. We note
with appreciation the success in efforts for the replenishment of the resources
of the GEF, which is a committed and reliable partner in financing sustainable
development in Small Island Developing States;
xiii. We regard international cooperation on taxation issues as important, and
there should be provisions for our participation in the international rulemaking process, to ensure transparency and non-discrimination in the
implementation of regulation, operation and best practices;
xiv. We note with concern that the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a major
challenge for Small Island Developing States, and call for intensified
international and regional efforts, including steps to ensure access to
affordable treatment and medication;
xv. Management of wastes is a serious constraint for Small Island Developing
States, with the resulting hazard to human health and the coastal zone, and we
therefore call on the international community, including international financial
institutions, to assist Small Island Developing States in developing and
implementing programs and projects in this sector, as well as in the full
implementation of initiatives listed in the Draft Plan of Implementation of the
WSSD; and
xvi. We recognize that transportation and communications, both domestic and
international, are an essential element to sustainable development in all
sectors and we call for programs to develop comprehensive transportation and
communication capacities in Small Island Developing States.
10. We express to all our international partners and donor countries, to the United
Nations agencies and all other international organizations our appreciation for their
continuing support and assistance.
11. We look forward to the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Global Conference on
the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and the support of the
international community in the preparations at national, regional and inter-regional levels
for the convening of an international meeting to review the Barbados Programme of
Action in 2004.
6
12. We recognise the special value of regional and inter-regional cooperation amongst
Small Island Developing States and the role performed by their regional organizations
and educational institutions, as well as the science and technology institutes and call for
further strengthening of links between these organisations for sustainable development.
We also encourage the pursuit of further regional and inter-regional cooperation amongst
and between AOSIS member States.
13. We reaffirm our strong support for the United Nations SIDS Unit, and call for its
strengthening as the focal point for Small Island Developing States within the United
Nations system.
14. We resolve to promote sustainable economic growth and the implementation of
policies addressing poverty and social inequality, including through the development of
urban and rural micro-enterprises and job creation.
15. We express gratitude to member States that have hosted AOSIS workshops and
meetings of experts. We also express our appreciation to the Chairman of AOSIS and all
AOSIS officials who have worked tirelessly to accomplish the mandates and goals of
AOSIS in many international negotiations. AOSIS should continue to strengthen its
advocacy role, including in the preparations for the proposed Barbados+10 Conference.
16. We reaffirm our agreement to exchange views at future international meetings to
ensure that AOSIS remains a forum to promote the shared interests of its member
States, and to strengthen cooperation among Small Island Developing States.
17. We welcome the offer by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius to host the
international meeting to review the implementation of the Barbados Program of Action in
2004 with warm gratitude, and take note of the interest of the Government of the
Commonwealth of Bahamas and the Government of the Republic of Cape Verde to host
preparatory and expert meetings respectively.
18. We offer to the Government and People of the Republic of South Africa our warmest
gratitude and congratulations for the fine arrangements for the WSSD.
Done at Johannesburg, 1 September 2002.