Solomon Islands
STATEMENT BY
HONOURABLE MANASSEH SOGAVARE, MP
PRIME MINISTER
BEFORE THE
UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE
POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
27 SEPTEMBER 2015, NEW YORK
PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
SOLOMON ISLANDS
1 | P a g e
Mr. President,
Thank you for giving me the floor.
Solomon Islands welcome the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The new Agenda is about
people, pursuing prosperity through partnerships, and operating within safe levels of our planetary
boundary. We register our commitment to implement the 17 transformative Sustainable
Development Goals and its 169 targets within our national context and circumstances.
This historic Agenda presents a new ambitious framework for sustainable development that
requires urgent action to reverse current unsustainable global consumption and production
patterns. We must therefore seek new ways of doing business and measuring wealth, one which are
linked and tied to guaranteeing humanity’s survival. In this context, SDGs must remain People
centered.
The overarching goal of the SDGs is not just about eradicating poverty, it is also about healing the
declining health of our planet. Preserving life on our planet must be our shared responsibility. For
prosperity cannot be pursued on a dead system!
The 17 time-bound SDGs must now become a highway for global partnerships. These Goals must
now be matched with sufficient resources, for us to meaningfully transform our peoples’ lives.
Solomon Islands as a Small Island Developing State remains a special case for sustainable
development given our vulnerability to climate change and our unique characteristics, that requires
special attention by the global community.
We have committed ourselves under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), the S.A.M.O.A
Pathway and the Istanbul Program of Action (IPOA) to deliver sustainable development nationally
allowing SIDS and LDCs to leapfrog development to sustainability.
Mr. President,
Solomon Islands will be reviewing its cooperation programs so that they are aligned to SDGs in the
context of our national priorities. We will incorporate the SDGs into our 20 year National
Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2036 by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year.
We therefore call on all development partners to support our efforts.
On sustainable energy, Solomon Islands is presently working on two hydro projects with the World
Bank and Asian Development Bank. Both projects remain on Solomon Islands Post 2015 Agenda.
We are also seeking partnerships to progress other hydro projects and geothermal and wind energy
potentials.
Mr. President,
Presently, 85% of Solomon Islands population is not connected to the energy grid. We need
partners to invest in large-scale game changing energy projects in our rural areas; to open up
opportunities for our population. Such will free up a third of our national budget that is spent on
importation of fossil fuel.
2 | P a g e
On agriculture, we call on our development partners to assist us integrate our rural sector into the
mainstream economy and get its fair share in the global market.
Building a resilient Solomon Islands economy requires significant international cooperation in
constructing environmentally sound infrastructure in the areas of energy, transportation,
communication, agriculture, tourism, information and technology.
Mr. President,
The 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris 2015 Climate Change Agreement to
be concluded in December are intricately linked to sustainable development.
On climate change, science is clear; we are heading towards a global temperature increase of 3 – 3.5
degrees Celsius. This leaves behind SIDS and LDCs unless those with historical responsibility do
more and submit ambitious mitigation commitments under the Intended National Determined
Contributions.
In the lead up to COP 21 in Paris, I must reiterate the Suva Climate Declaration by Pacific Small
Islands Developing States, calling for the stabilization of global temperature increase to be well
below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The outcome Agreement must be ambitious, comprehensive and legally
binding; with loss and damage anchored, as a stand alone chapter.
Let me close by stating what late Nelson Mandela once said, “poverty is man-made and can be
eradicated”.
Might I add that; climate change is also man-made and can be reversed.
Mr. President,
We are here to make history. To this end, we must provide honest and quality political leadership
that secures and guarantees hope for our people and our planet.
Let us go forward and urgently get on with the task of creating a better future for our children, their
children, and, generations to come.
Thank you Mr. President.
HONOURABLE MANASSEH SOGAVARE, MP
PRIME MINISTER
BEFORE THE
UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE
POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
27 SEPTEMBER 2015, NEW YORK
PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
SOLOMON ISLANDS
1 | P a g e
Mr. President,
Thank you for giving me the floor.
Solomon Islands welcome the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The new Agenda is about
people, pursuing prosperity through partnerships, and operating within safe levels of our planetary
boundary. We register our commitment to implement the 17 transformative Sustainable
Development Goals and its 169 targets within our national context and circumstances.
This historic Agenda presents a new ambitious framework for sustainable development that
requires urgent action to reverse current unsustainable global consumption and production
patterns. We must therefore seek new ways of doing business and measuring wealth, one which are
linked and tied to guaranteeing humanity’s survival. In this context, SDGs must remain People
centered.
The overarching goal of the SDGs is not just about eradicating poverty, it is also about healing the
declining health of our planet. Preserving life on our planet must be our shared responsibility. For
prosperity cannot be pursued on a dead system!
The 17 time-bound SDGs must now become a highway for global partnerships. These Goals must
now be matched with sufficient resources, for us to meaningfully transform our peoples’ lives.
Solomon Islands as a Small Island Developing State remains a special case for sustainable
development given our vulnerability to climate change and our unique characteristics, that requires
special attention by the global community.
We have committed ourselves under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), the S.A.M.O.A
Pathway and the Istanbul Program of Action (IPOA) to deliver sustainable development nationally
allowing SIDS and LDCs to leapfrog development to sustainability.
Mr. President,
Solomon Islands will be reviewing its cooperation programs so that they are aligned to SDGs in the
context of our national priorities. We will incorporate the SDGs into our 20 year National
Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-2036 by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year.
We therefore call on all development partners to support our efforts.
On sustainable energy, Solomon Islands is presently working on two hydro projects with the World
Bank and Asian Development Bank. Both projects remain on Solomon Islands Post 2015 Agenda.
We are also seeking partnerships to progress other hydro projects and geothermal and wind energy
potentials.
Mr. President,
Presently, 85% of Solomon Islands population is not connected to the energy grid. We need
partners to invest in large-scale game changing energy projects in our rural areas; to open up
opportunities for our population. Such will free up a third of our national budget that is spent on
importation of fossil fuel.
2 | P a g e
On agriculture, we call on our development partners to assist us integrate our rural sector into the
mainstream economy and get its fair share in the global market.
Building a resilient Solomon Islands economy requires significant international cooperation in
constructing environmentally sound infrastructure in the areas of energy, transportation,
communication, agriculture, tourism, information and technology.
Mr. President,
The 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris 2015 Climate Change Agreement to
be concluded in December are intricately linked to sustainable development.
On climate change, science is clear; we are heading towards a global temperature increase of 3 – 3.5
degrees Celsius. This leaves behind SIDS and LDCs unless those with historical responsibility do
more and submit ambitious mitigation commitments under the Intended National Determined
Contributions.
In the lead up to COP 21 in Paris, I must reiterate the Suva Climate Declaration by Pacific Small
Islands Developing States, calling for the stabilization of global temperature increase to be well
below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The outcome Agreement must be ambitious, comprehensive and legally
binding; with loss and damage anchored, as a stand alone chapter.
Let me close by stating what late Nelson Mandela once said, “poverty is man-made and can be
eradicated”.
Might I add that; climate change is also man-made and can be reversed.
Mr. President,
We are here to make history. To this end, we must provide honest and quality political leadership
that secures and guarantees hope for our people and our planet.
Let us go forward and urgently get on with the task of creating a better future for our children, their
children, and, generations to come.
Thank you Mr. President.
Stakeholders