Welcome to the United Nations
HLPF has a special role to address the sustainable development challenges facing small island developing States (SIDS). It will examine the issue of building island and community resilience through the water and sustainable energy lens. Reducing poverty, triggering economic growth and building resilient societies requires harnessing the potential of ecosystems to satisfy the demands of water and energy, which are essential for life, health and wellbeing and economic growth and development.
Most SIDS have made significant progress in expanding the provision of access to water and sanitation. The problems now being encountered include quality of service, maintenance and operation of existing infrastructure, ageing infrastructure, high levels of unaccounted for water and quality of potable water. This suggests difficulties with the management of water services and with securing the necessary levels of investment to address the supply–demand gap. With respect to energy supply and services, over that last two decades many SIDS have developed and adopted comprehensive energy policies, typically addressing the development of legislation, investment incentives, measures for energy efficiency, infrastructure investments, and guidance for the direction of energy resource development. The countries, often with isolated, small electric grids and similar sustainable development and climate change challenges, have unique needs requiring creative measures in energy policy.
Proposed guiding questions:
- How can SIDS transform their energy sectorsto ensure accessto sustainable and secure energy supplies and facilitate economic growth and sustainable development? What support is needed from the international community for the development of comprehensive sustainable energy policies and programmes in SIDS?
- What enabling environment (legislative and institutional) is necessary for effective water governance in SIDS?
- How can integrated water resources management be used to address impacts from climate change, improve overall water security, including re-use of wastewater, and better health and wellbeing?
- What are the prospect for SIDS to reach the SDGs and make societies resilient and sustainable?
Chair:
- H.E. Mr. Marc Pecsteen, Vice-President of ECOSOC
Moderator:
- H.E. Ms. Henrietta Elizabeth Thompson, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN, and former Minister for Energy and Environment of Barbados
Panellists:
- Hon Alexander Teabo, Minister for Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development, Kiribati
- Ms. Tessa Williams-Robertson, Head of Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Unit, Caribbean Development Bank
- Mr. Adrianus Tvlugman, Senior Advisor, Water Sanitation, Environmental Health, PAHO, WHO
Lead discussants:
- Ms. Rhonda Robinson, Deputy Director, Water and Sanitation, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
- Ms. Addys Claribel Then Marte, Executive Director, Alianza ONG (Volunteers)
Followed by interactive discussion
