The UN 4th SIDS Conference will be hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the United Nations. It is scheduled to take place from the 27th – 30th May 2024 at the American University of Antigua, under the theme “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity”.

The 4th SIDS Conference is a platform for key stakeholders from small island nations to come together and discuss critical issues related to sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity, and socio-economic challenges. It serves as an opportunity for governments, CSOs, academia, and the private sector to share insights and best practices and collaborate on solutions that promote the well-being and resilience of small island communities.

Based on the success of the previous SIDS Conference, we anticipate a considerable number of delegates attending the 4th SIDS Conference 2024. While the exact number is subject to change, our preliminary estimates suggest that approximately 3500 participants from various countries and organisations will be in attendance. These participants will include Presidents, Prime Ministers, other high-level officials, non-governmental organisations, representatives from development partners, UN agencies, and the private sector.

The Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS), the Maritime Administration, in collaboration the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will be hosting a side event on Tuesday 28th May 2024 at 16:00 – 17:30 hours, titled “Sustainable shipping and ports for SIDS: Resilience and strengthened climate investment”, which is aligned thematically to “Revitalizing SIDS economies for accelerated and sustainable growth”.

The proposed side-event aims to underline the importance of shipping and ports for SIDS sustainable development, specifically through showcasing main challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships and the related necessary energy transition of shipping, while also hearing from SIDS and other relevant stakeholders on ongoing work, including projects and pilots that can serve as best practices, lessons learnt for this transition.

The session will identify a set of recommendations, building on panel discussions, as to how SIDS can tap into the opportunities and benefits that may arise from the energy transition and mitigating the potential transition costs, including through new projects, as well as by generating interest from Multilateral Development Banks to undertake maritime decarbonization investments in SIDS.

The format will include a high-level opening and introduction by the State and the IMO, followed by a panel discussion facilitated by a moderator from one of the Caribbean maritime administrations with a panel that will include Antigua and Barbuda, the IMO, the IMO Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) for the Caribbean, Belize and the Inter-American Development Bank. This will be followed by an open Q&A, recommendations, and closing remarks.

Side Event Format:

High Level Opening (5 mins)

Antigua and Barbuda

IMO (Deputy Director, TCID)

Introduction (10 mins)

“Objectives of the IMO GHG Strategy and the obligation on Member States to meet the targets” (IMO, Head, Climate Action and Clean Air)

Panel discussion (45mins)

Moderator (TBC)

Panel Members

IMO (Head, Climate Action and Clean Air)

Antigua and Barbuda (Speaker, TBC)

Belize (Speaker TBC)

Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for the Caribbean (Director)

Inter-American Development Bank (Speaker TBC)

Open Q&A (20 min)

Closing remarks (10 min)

For further information contact administration@abregistry.ag