Statement by:

H.E Mr Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations

Ninth Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

New York, 3 March 2014

Distinguished Co-Chair,

Maldives aligns itself with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of G77 and China and the statement delivered by Nauru on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

I wish to commend you on the efficiency and innovation that characterizes the deliberations of the Open Working Group and on your leadership in this process. We appreciate the expertise offered by the UN Secretariat in compiling the Progress Report and the Focus Area document.

The Progress Report presents a valuable summary of the past sessions and will be a vital contribution to our future work. In moving forward with the next stage of global development, my delegation believes that we must ensure that our efforts towards Sustainable Development Goals are guided by necessary principles. The international agreement reflected in the Rio+20 outcome document and its principles form the foundation of these goals. Their elaboration heeds the lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals and avoids isolated sectorial approaches. Every potential SDG is interdependent, cohesive and aspirational in its nature.

Co-Chair,

The Focus Area document clearly reflects the consensus underlying the discussions of the Open Working Group, especially following the Report by the Secretary General's High Level Panel of Eminent Persons. Eradication of poverty represents the cornerstone of any conceivable SDG framework. Almost all other focus areas will either directly or indirectly contribute towards this objective, while delivering other desirable development gains. Foremost among these areas are food security, nutrition, health, sanitation, water, energy, education and employment. Highlighted by the President of the General Assembly, it is clear that these focus areas are highly interlinked and have mutually reinforcing outcomes.

Sustainable Development must be equitable, including towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment. Equal opportunities in education and employment for women and girls directly contribute to the eradication of poverty. However, despite these synergies, gender equality is not an inherent process of sustainable development, it must be actively pursued. We therefore believe that equity, equality and empowerment of women can only be achieved through a stand-alone goal on gender parity.

For the Maldives, desirable outcomes on areas mentioned earlier are directly linked to marine resources, oceans and the sea, and therefore, we are pleased that this focus area is well reflected in the document. At this point we would like to re-iterate our call for an Ocean SDG, because it is integral to progress in poverty eradication, positioning decent jobs and employment, contributing to food and water security, and its high potential for avenues for renewable energy. Furthermore, the importance of protection of ecosystems and biodiversity of the oceans cannot be stressed enough, as there is no other single resource which affects the world more.

My delegation believes that in reaching the targets that we all agree on, we as a community of states need to focus on the areas where sustained economic and social progress can be reached while taking the environmental pillar of sustainability fully into account. We should avoid environmentally or socially unsustainable short-term gains. Economic growth is a great tool to achieve our common aspirations. But it becomes useful only when it is based on sustainable consumption and production, rather than on the deterioration of natural capital and ecosystem services. Industrialization can be a great enabling factor, when it happens within the planetary boundaries and does not push us beyond the safe operating space of mankind. We live in an interconnected world, where trans-boundary pollution affects neighbouring countries, and where unsustainable practices are used as an excuse and a precedent for further environmental degradation. These goals are based on the ideal of sustainable global development, and every goal must aspire to meet the burden of this ideal.

Co-Chair,

Climate Change is the most vivid, direct and threatening spawn of unsustainable production and consumption. Adaptation to climate change, including existing models, needs to be mainstreamed through every SDG, as it directly impacts the ability to develop, not only SIDS but for the world community at large. This is an issue, which is clearly interdependent and cross-cutting. The arguments formed around Climate Change are cohesive and undeniable. And any argument that it must be separated from the global development framework for the next few decades is misguided and mistaken. Every goal must be aspirational, and the cross-cutting theme of climate change must be present if these goals are to be taken seriously. For my delegation, our culture, heritage, identity and nation will exist at the mercy of this issue. Without addressing climate change, there will be no sustainable development for the Maldives.

Co-Chair,

At the end of the day, we acknowledge that this is a global compact. As such, we should learn our lessons from the execution of the MDGs. The means of implementation for SDGs should not be neglected, nor should its goal of renewed partnerships. Different targets will require different approaches, but our aim should be to make sure that all countries have the means, including capacity and technology, to enable them to effectively implement and monitor their progress towards our mutually agreed targets. The needs of SIDS and other countries in special situations should be taken into account explicitly, to make sure no country gets left behind.

My delegation concurs with the belief that rule of law, good governance, capable institutions and inclusive decision-making are critical in enabling sustainable development, as well as in preventing conflicts. Not only does this apply to the national level, but also the international community. A renewed global partnership, a more action-orientated update of MDG8 is an imperative. The elaboration of the SDGs is a unique opportunity to place a clear signal for a more dependable, consistent, integrated, and ambitious approach towards sustainable development in the international community.

Arriving at a consensus on all these areas will require a monumental effort, broadening of horizons, and great flexibility. My delegation believes that together we can all rise to the occasion.

Thank you, Co-Chair. 

Statement by:

H.E Mr Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations

First Preparatory Committee Meeting for the Third International Conference

on Small Island Developing States.

New York, 24 February 2014

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

My delegation is honored to deliver this statement during the First Preparatory Committee meeting for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. Since this is the first time my delegation is taking the floor, let me take this opportunity to extend my delegation’s warmest congratulations to you, and the members of the bureau on your election to guide us in our deliberations. Let me assure you of my delegation’s full cooperation and support in this vital process to a successful yet ambitious conclusion.

We would also like to associate ourselves with the statement delivered by Bolivia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and the statement delivered by Nauru on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Co-Chairs,

Twenty-two years have passed since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro had recognized Small Island Developing States as a distinct group of developing countries facing specific social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Yet we, as an international community, are still faltering or even regressing, instead of living up to our commitments. BPOA, MSI, JPOI and the MDGs have played an important role in focusing the developmental efforts of SIDS. However, these processes have not been fully implemented and a transformational strategy is now required to bridge national sustainable development priorities and the global development agenda.

SIDS have made great strides in sustainable development but the negative impacts of climate change have threatened to erode the development gains we have achieved and have increasingly made progress harder all along the way. We are acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including phenomena such as sea level rise, increased frequency of severe weather events and deterioration of coral reefs due to increasing sea surface temperature and ocean acidification. The coral reefs and seas are our lifeline. The Maldives economy to a large extent depends on coastal and marine ecosystems and the biodiversity they harbour. Fishing has been a way of life in the Maldives for generations and we need to take strong steps to safeguard and sustainably develop our natural resources while building resilience against climate change. The Government of Maldives is currently spending more than 27% of its national budget to build resilience to combat the effects of climate change.

Co-Chairs

For the Maldives, change in rainfall patterns is already causing huge impact on availability and quality of rainwater on which more than 90% of our island communities rely on as potable water. The rainwater is polluted due to trans-boundary pollution and ground water is contaminated due to inundation, saltwater intrusion and contaminants from sewerage.

Another priority area for the Maldives would be addressing health and NCDs. Epidemiological and demographic transitions to non-communicable diseases and an ageing population continue to test our health system. Chronic diseases lead to considerable loss in productivity and consume a large amount of resources available for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Up-to 70% of all deaths in Maldives is due to NCDs. As such, NCDs are not only a challenge for the health system to prevent, detect and treat, but also a challenge for sustaining human capital and economic development.

Energy security is critical for the Maldives whose 350,000 plus population reside in over 190 islands that are flung across more than a 100,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean. Economic progress and social development are at risk as the country depends on an unpredictable global market for its energy resources. The government currently spend about 35% of its GDP on energy.

Co-Chairs

The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States presents a pivotal moment in regard to addressing the challenges that we as SIDS face and must result in an outcome that reinvigorates the commitments of the international community to a global partnership that enables SIDS to eradicate poverty, build resilience and improve the quality of life for our Peoples and Nations.

With 2014 being the International Year of Small Island Developing States, we hope that it will be a continuous reminder not only of our unique and particular vulnerabilities but of our diverse and vibrant cultures and people.

Thank you, Co-Chair.