UN General Assembly
2024

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are the first to suffer, but we will not be the last. All will be consumed, if we continue to dither and delay. SIDS have learned to fight for our survival against the rising seas and violent storms. But today, we must also fight for something greater: the survival of justice, of equity, peace and human dignity itself. The time for games and lofty rhetoric has passed. We demand committed, concrete action and we demand it now! We do so not only for ourselves, but for all of humanity. The Fourth United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), is the pinnacle of monumental achievement, a milestone that marks not only our collective progress as SIDS, but also our unrelenting resolve. SIDS4 gave birth to the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, the (ABAS) - a renewed declaration for resilient prosperity. This Agenda is not just a roadmap for the future; it is a lifeline for now.