Media Corner

Press

Press Releases/Media Advisories

Preliminary list of SIDS4 commitments (31 July 2024)
Closing Press Conference (30 May 2024)
Co-chairs of the Steering Committee on Partnerships for SIDS announce winners of the 2024 SIDS Partnership Awards (28 May 2024)
Opening Press Conference (28 May 2024)
Opening Remarks of Mr. Li Junhua at the Opening Press Conference for SIDS4 (27 May 2024)
Press Release - Small islands on the frontlines of catastrophic climate crisis, crippling debt, exacting heavy toll on development gains (27 May 2024)
Press briefing room schedule
Renewed urgency for upcoming UN conference to forge new path for prosperity in Small Island Developing States (Media advisory, 29 April 2024)
Upcoming UN conference to set new roadmap to accelerate sustainable development in Small Island Developing States (Media advisory, 25 March 2024)
Small islands take next steps toward new 10-year development plan ahead of major UN Conference (Media Advisory, 26 February 2024)
Islands of the Pacific meet to assess development progress and tackle shared crises (Press release, 15 August 2023)
Climate change, debt relief expected to top Caribbean island nation priorities at regional meeting ahead of UN conference on Small Island Developing States (Press release, 8 August 2023)
Consultations open in Mauritius ahead of the first major international conference on Small Island Developing States since pandemic (Press release, 24 July 2023)

Press Kit

SDG Media Zone

The SIDS4 SDG Media Zone highlighted opportunities to accelerate sustainable development progress in the SIDS regions and efforts towards a more resilient future. Conversations in the Zone unpacked some of the Conference themes, including financing for development, climate change, youth engagement and digital technologies. Join us and be part of the conversation on the transformation and solutions needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Policy Dialogues

UN DESA hosted two Global Policy Dialogues aimed at bringing the SIDS4 energy to an online audience, showcasing the work the Department does to support small island developing States.

Programme for the 27 May session on “The Economic Prospects of SIDS”

Watch the 27 May session here.

Programme for the 30 May session on “The Demographic Prospects of SIDS”

Watch the 30 May session here.

Learn more about the programme here

Media accreditation

Please note that media accreditation closed on 10 May. There will not be on-site accreditation.

Questions on media accreditation should be referred to the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit: malu@un.org or +1-212-963-6934.

Coverage from IISD

4th International Conference on SIDS

In the news

Videos

Photo Contest

2024 Photo Competition for UN World Oceans Day

This free competition is open to the public and explores the five thematic categories open for submission. The categories are purposefully broad to encourage photographers’ interpretations and artistic visions. The 2024 Competition will feature a category on Small Island Developing States, helping to mark the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States. This category offers entrants the chance to have their images featured in materials for the Conference, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 27-30 May 2024.

The competition is free and open for entries between 1 March and 7 April 2024. Winners will be announced during the live broadcast of UN World Oceans Day 2024 on 7 June 2024.

The 2024 Photo Competition for UN World Oceans Day is coordinated in collaboration between the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), DivePhotoGuide (DPG), Oceanic Global, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN OHRLLS), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Nausicaa.

Thank you to Dive Photo Guide for their ongoing support of the UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition.

More information on the competition is available here: https://unworldoceansday.org/photo-competition/

World Oceans Day

Fellowship

Voice the Future SIDS Journalism Campaign

Introduction

The future of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), espoused by SIDS, must be based on “resilient prosperity.” The “Voice the Future SIDS Journalism Campaign.” a drumbeat supporting this ethos, is a United Nations initiative designed to promote SIDS based reporting, and to attract both developing and accomplished journalists from SIDS member countries to cover the pivotal Fourth International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4), scheduled for 27-30 May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda.

This initiative recognizes the critical role journalism plays in shaping the sustainable development narrative, including shinning a spotlight on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by SIDS, by emphasizing issues such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, access to finance, sustainable tourism, economic transformation etc. The initiative is spear-headed by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

Experience with the SAMOA Pathway, the predecessor to the new SIDS agenda, showed that the SAMOA Pathway remained scantly visible to the very SIDS communities it sought to serve. Where there was coverage, it was mainly through the United Nations or global media entities with very little available through SIDS based media outlets. Enhanced journalistic focus can elevate coverage of the urgent development issues of critical importance to SIDS, inform policy, attract investment, and foster international cooperation. There is a dire need for increased media representation specific to SIDS that articulates these issues with cultural insight and local knowledge. The Voice the Future SIDS Journalism campaign seeks to capitalize on the Fourth SIDS International Conference to promote wider coverage of SIDS development issues by SIDS based media including the new agenda for SIDS development, the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.

Aims and Objectives

The overarching goal of the “Voice the Future SIDS Journalism Campaign” is to enhance the quality and reach of SIDS sustainable development-related reporting.

Specific objectives include:

To select a cadre of journalists with a passion for highlighting SIDS sustainable development issues
To promote in-depth, knowledgeable, and culturally nuanced coverage of the Fourth International Conference on SIDS and other SIDS related issues.
To facilitate the building of a network of SIDS-focused journalists who can continue to share knowledge and coverage on SIDS sustainable development matters beyond the conference.

Expected Outcomes

In the short term, the initiative aims to generate quality SIDS reporting; a series of high-caliber articles and reports etc., before, during and after the Fourth SIDS International Conference that capture the essence and urgency of SIDS' sustainable development issues.

Long-term outcomes include the establishment of a dedicated stream of SIDS-centric news content and the fostering of a robust network of journalists highly engaged in SIDS sustainable development issues, contributing to sustained international, regional and local awareness and advocacy on what is at stake for SIDS in relation to their sustainable development, in the context of the new SIDS agenda, and the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.

How to Apply

Any journalist who meets the eligibility criteria can apply for this fellowship by 10 April 2024, 11:59 p.m. EDT, using this link: https://bit.ly/sids4journalists

Documentation

Please find the Terms and Conditions here

Please find a full concept note here

SIDS4 one-page overview here

Call for submissions here

Branding

The SIDS4 Conference logo is available for use in the six official languages of the UN. You can download it here.

Please follow the SIDS4 Branding Guidelines available here.

Meeting Coverage

Meeting Coverage from UN

UN system resources

From ITU

“Facts and Figures: Focus on Small Island Developing States”
- “The Facts and Figures: Focus on Small Island Developing States” report shows that the growth of Internet use in SIDS since the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS3) held in 2014 was higher than the global growth; between 2014 – 2023, the annual growth rate in SIDS was 8.4 per cent, surpassing the global growth rate of 6.7 per cent. In 2023, 67 per cent of the SIDS population was online, in line with the world’s average, which shows that there is a high demand for ICT services in the SIDS. However, infrastructure, capacity and affordability remain key barriers to connectivity. Released to coincide with SIDS4, the report equips stakeholders with accurate data to inform their discussions and guide their decisions toward universal and meaningful connectivity.

From UNDP

“Small Island Digital States: How Digital Can Catalyse SIDS Development”
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are increasingly becoming Small Island Digital States. Digital is positively impacting lives and livelihoods across SIDS – improving the reach and effectiveness of government and public service delivery, providing exciting new opportunities for citizen engagement and empowerment; and shaping new products, sectors, and opportunities. This major publication serves as a roadmap for SIDS' policymakers, decision-makers, and innovators. It advocates for an inclusive digital transformation that benefits all parts of society. From Tuvalu's venture into the metaverse, to the recent launch of National Digital Strategies by Suriname, Niue, and the Cook Islands; and the open-source digital health leadership of Mauritius. SIDS are going digital.

FROM UNIC Caribbean, ECLAC, UN Caribbean and UN Pacific

Imagine a World Without Islands campaign
- Inspired by the SIDS rallying cry “1.5 to stay alive,” which underscores the urgent need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the campaign urges the world to envision a grim future where islands could cease to exist. With current pledges under the Paris Agreement putting the world on track for a 2.5-2.9°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels this century, we must now ask a difficult question: what happens if the world fails to correct course? Whether it’s sea level rise swallowing islands whole in the Pacific or hurricanes growing in intensity and frequency in the Atlantic, one thing is clear: islands are on the frontline of the climate crisis.

From UNITAR

I tei Qele App: technology at the service of agricultural resilience in Fiji
- Fiji has one of the lowest carbon emissions in the world. Yet, this country is facing a dire environmental situation due to climate change. Level rise, saltwater intrusion, and coastal erosion are a constant threat to the country's agriculture. To address these challenges, UNOSAT leveraged its technological expertise and created the I Tei Qele App, enabling farmers to visualize suitable areas for specific crops.
Developing risk maps to protect the population from Cyclones in Vanuatu
- Vanuatu is prone to multipolar natural threats, including cyclones and floods. After attending UNOSAT training courses, the Natural Disaster Management Office's stakeholders were able to integrate GIS techniques into operational frameworks and develop risk maps. As a result, Vanuatu now activates its emergency center (NEOC) when cyclones threaten. GIS experts create risk maps showing the cyclone's path and potential impact areas. This allows rapid assessment teams to target vulnerable regions with damage assessments and intervention efforts.
Education planning to create safe schools for all children in the Caribbean
- One billion children are at extremely high risk from climate change impacts worldwide. The decision of where to establish a school is a determinant factor in protecting children from natural hazards. On Antigua Island, data from open data sources only showed a few education facilities with limited information. New interactive maps, powered by UNOSAT & UNICEF, help education ministries pinpoint optimal locations for new schools or prioritize existing ones for upgrades, considering hazards and other risks.
Climate finance workshops to fight against climate change
- Pacific leaders struggle to secure funding for climate change projects due to limited resources. UNOSAT partnered with CCFAH (Com Sec) and SPC to hold a climate finance workshop in Suva. This workshop empowered leaders with proposal-writing skills to navigate funding bodies. As a result, the Fijian government secured a $5.7 million project to build nature-based seawalls, protecting over 2,400 people in 14 villages.