Small island development ‘a test case’ for climate and financial justice, says Guterres

Photo: UNICEF/Roger LeMoyne. Retrieved from news.un.org

Some of the key developments so far on day one of the conference where leaders from governments, the UN, civil society, business, academia and youth activists, have gathered to chart a course towards resilient prosperity for existentially threatened island nations.

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The opening session ended with a plea from young Lutrell John, who was one of the delegates to the SIDS Global Children and Youth Action Summit at the weekend.

The fresh-faced Antigua and Barbuda resident told delegates his generation wants a better, safer future.

He recalled the “lifechanging devastation” of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and is increasingly aware of the worsening climate crisis.

“I love my country, it’s beautiful, it’s my home but I fear for my future”, he said.