“Our common vision and unity ensure that as AOSIS we are loud and a powerful force for change”

While member states of the Small Island States (AOSIS) may be small countries scattered around the globe, the common vision and unity shared within these countries ensure that as AOSIS, “we are loud and a powerful force for change”, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Speaking at the AOSIS Leaders' Summit 2021 on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, the Maldivian president noted that all AOSIS members have a “long and deep” track record of commitment to address climate change and sustainable development.

Highlighting that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has brought the extreme vulnerability of SIDS to external shocks, to the spotlight, the president noted that it has “crippled” our economies.

However, the long-drawn-out ban of global travel had brought “truly unprecedented” challenges.

He noted that travel bans across several countries had cripple the country’s economy “beyond measure”, with Maldives economy being strongly reliant on natural resources.

As such, during 2020, Maldives experienced an economic contraction of a third of economic activity.

Further, Solih shed light on the Ocean Conference presenting a key opportunity for AOSIS to build momentum leading up to the conference, on issues such as marine plastic pollution, overfishing, biodiversity loss as well as coral bleaching.

Expressing full support for the efforts underway to manage coordinate multilateral action to address the menace of marine plastic pollution, including through an international treaty, President Solih expressed confidence that the Leader’s Declaration will “once again” demonstrate the AOSIS members’ unity and seriousness on these issues, to the international community.