As the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity concluded in Yerevan, Armenia, the OECS and fellow Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have reaffirmed their commitment to biodiversity conservation while highlighting the unique vulnerabilities and challenges facing island nations.
In their closing statement, SIDS called for greater recognition of their special circumstances, improved access to predictable and adequate financing, stronger technical and capacity-building support, and increased attention to marine, coastal and island biodiversity.
They emphasised inclusive participation, recognising the contributions of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth in achieving the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).
The message from SIDS was clear: Ambitious biodiversity commitments must be matched by the financial resources, technology and capacity needed to translate them into meaningful action.
The participation of the OECS at COP17 was supported by the European Union through the COLOURS programme, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), strengthening the region’s voice in global biodiversity negotiations.
