UN chief urges sustainable development

A common theme throughout the pre-conference events and today's opening event is climate change, and efforts to stem its impacts.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi urged organizers to take concrete steps to stem rising sea levels. He noted that critical problems do not recognise borders and hold no respect for sovereignty.

"The big problems of our small islands will sooner rather than later impact every country irrespective of level of development of prosperity," said the Prime Minister.

Turning to participants of the conference, the slogan of which is 'Island Voices, Global Choices,' he urged them to act: "There are always great opportunities to deliver moralistic statements and declarations of intent. But grandstanding won't achieve our cause."

The international conference comes ahead of Mr. Ban's Climate Summit which will be held on 23 September at UN Headquarters in New York. The summit is meant to catalyse action and build momentum for a climate agreement to be discussed next year in Paris.

"SIDS will have an important role to play," Mr. Ban said. "You can tell the largest emitters what action you expect from them. And you can show how you are working to build resilience and create the green economies of the future."

"You can set an example for the world," he added, noting that this year is also the International Year of Small Island Developing States.

In addition to the plenary session, six so-called 'partnership dialogues' have been organized on the themes of sustainable economic development; climate change and disaster risk management; social development in SIDS, health and non-communicable diseases, youth and women; sustainable energy; oceans, seas and biodiversity; water and sanitation, food security and waste management.

The topics are related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which the international community is working to reach by next year's deadline, as well as the sustainable development goals that will follow post-2015.

According to the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, small islands had made less progress on the MDGs than other countries, with some even regressing.