Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank the organizers and our host Antigua and Barbuda for the excellent preparations, warm welcome and hospitality extended to us in St. John’s. Latvia was honoured to take part in the preparatory process as the Rapporteur of the Preparatory Committee, and it is my great honour to serve as a Vice-President of the Conference.
This conference is an opportunity to address the pressing and unique challenges SIDS are facing, and affirm the urgently needed support to move towards our shared goal: a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
Being at the forefront of global environmental crises, small island developing states face immediate and profound environmental challenges. We welcome the designation of 2024 as the International Year of SIDS, raising international alertness and increasing visibility of small island states’ challenges and perspectives.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Small island developing states are leaders in championing progress in the fight against climate change. Latvia welcomes the May 21 Advisory Opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which clarifies obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and confirms greenhouse gas emissions as marine pollution, aiding the endeavours to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Latvia strongly supports Vanuatu-led global initiative that culminated in the UN General Assembly Resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to clarify State obligations and legal consequences related to climate change. Latvia has submitted a written statement to the International Court of Justice and is closely following the work of the International Law Commission on issues related to the sea-level rise.
In the meantime, there is a need to accelerate climate finance for nations carrying the hardest burden of climate change effects. We welcome the Report of the High-level Panel on the Development of Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and encourage development institutions to build on this vital new tool. Meanwhile, we strongly believe that the UN Loss and Damage Fund is a crucial instrument to support vulnerable states and should be operationalized before COP29 in Baku. Latvia is considering a voluntary financial contribution to the UN Loss and Damage Fund and has made contributions to the climate account of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund ahead of COP28, becoming one of its first supporters.
At the same time, we stand ready to offer our expertise to help accelerate a more inclusive and digitally-enabled climate action, for example, on the use of smart technologies for management of natural resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Latvia strongly believes that data and digital technologies are the key for building effective institutions for a resilient future. Closing scientific, technological and innovation gaps as well as digital technology gaps remains a critical task. We welcome the establishment of the SIDS Centre of Excellence in Antigua and Barbuda, which would also include SIDS Global Data Hub. We are eager to discuss how Latvia can contribute to the works of the Centre with our national expertise in digitalization and promotion of digital skills.
In that regard, Latvia and small island developing states have established excellent cooperation at UNESCO, most recently having held the seminar on “Digitalization of education and languages in the Small Island Developing States”. Latvia’s experience with adoption of digital learning platforms and language technology tools serves as an example of how small states can rely on digital innovations to improve accessibility to education and promote linguistic equality through technology.
At the same time, language technology tools can foster greater access to reliable information. Latvia has championed the need to address the threats of disinformation and misinformation, including on issues related to climate change denial and denial of science, which pose serious risks to climate action.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sustainable Development Goals are the key to preventing conflicts and sustaining peace. The ongoing conflicts and crises around the world exacerbate the effects of climate change. Recognizing these challenges, Latvia has recently made a voluntary contribution to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
On our part appreciation goes to SIDS partners who have shown great solidarity with Ukraine, as it is defending itself in Russia’s illegal war of aggression.
Latvia strongly believes in the importance of working together with UN Member States, regional organizations, civil society, industry and youth to build resilience, forge lasting peace and security, and achieve sustainable development. We need to expand on the outcome of the 2023 SDG Summit and this SIDS4 conference ahead of the Summit of the Future in September to reinvigorate the multilateral system and enable it to deliver on the Agenda 2030.
To that end, we strongly believe that the United Nations Security Council has to address climate change as an existing risk for global peace and security. Latvia has been an active partner in previous discussions and will continue to address this issue, if elected to the Security Council for 2026-2027.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Small island developing states hold a great potential to surpass sustainable development gaps, leading the way towards sustainable future. As friend of SIDS, we stand ready to strengthen our partnership with small island developing states, “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity” together.
Thank you!