New York, 22 September 2021. At the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) Leaders’ Summit, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, called upon the world to act to prevent Small Island Developing States from disappearing as a consequence of climate change.
He stated that the time has come to halt the destruction of the environment, caused by the irrational patterns of production and consumption of those who, egoistically, are comfortable with the status quo.
The highest representative of the Caribbean island affirmed that the developed countries must and can shoulder their responsibilities and support the efforts to achieve sustainable development for all the peoples and to preserve the planet from the threats that they themselves have created, for they have the financial resources, but also a moral duty to meet their commitment to Official Development Assistance (ODA), capacity building, technology transfer, reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases and funding for climate adaptation.
He encouraged Small Island Developing States to continue to work together in their response to the challenges they share in terms of sustainable development and climate change. He highlighted that the new initiatives aimed at practical implementation of the SAMOA Pathway represent an important step forward in meeting these goals.
The Cuban President asserted that despite the restrictions resulting from the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States and deliberately intensified in the present pandemic conditions, Cuba would remain true to its spirit of solidarity and to humanism, and shall continue to promote cooperation in various spheres, notably public health, and to sharing its modest experience in the fields of disaster-risk reduction and response to climate change.
He reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the SAMOA Pathway. He supported the AOSIS Leaders’ Declaration, which will guide the steps of those countries towards achievement of their common goals.
Díaz-Canel Bermúdez concluded by exhorting these countries to work together for a future in which the aspirations of their peoples can be realized without their dreams being overshadowed by the threat of disappearing, through the fault of the excesses of others.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations
