Manhattan, New York (SKNIS): At the Summit of the Future 2024, held on Sunday, September 22, as part of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the Honourable Dr Joyelle Clarke, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment, delivered a powerful statement calling for global urgency in addressing the challenges facing the planet and its people.
Reflecting on the words of celebrated Kittitian calypsonian and current Minister of Energy and Water, the Honourable Konris Maynard, Dr Clarke asked a vital question: “Are we waiting blindly for 2030, or will we act now to save people and the planet?” This question, she said, serves as a call to action for the international community as the world approaches critical milestones in the fight against climate change and social inequities.
Dr. Clarke emphasised that the Summit of the Future provides a crucial opportunity for reflection and recalibration toward shared global goals of equity, justice, and self-determination, as outlined in the United Nations Charter. She further stressed the importance of rebuilding trust, echoing sentiments shared by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In her statement, Dr. Clarke commended the leadership of Namibia, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jamaica, Sweden, and Zambia for their role in co-facilitating the Pact for the Future. She highlighted the key areas of focus for St Kitts and Nevis, including the rapid implementation of the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index, the mobilisation of Loss and Damage Resources, and advancing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) alongside continued advocacy for the Bridgetown Initiative.
Small island nations like St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Clarke pointed out, are grappling with a multitude of crises, including biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and the impacts of climate change. These challenges, coupled with threats to food security, health, and national security, necessitate transformative change at both the national and international levels.
In her address, Dr Clarke outlined three critical actions to secure a future that is equitable and just: redefine multilateral partnerships; promote unbiased international systems that acknowledge and honour the resilience of small island nations and prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable, including women, youth, the elderly, and Indigenous and rural populations.
Minister Clarke urged the global community to assess historical patterns of disempowerment and exploitation and to use this Summit as a platform for creating new systems that benefit all, regardless of size or power.
St. Kitts and Nevis, as part of its national commitment, has embraced a Sustainable Island State Agenda, which Dr. Clarke described as the fulcrum of the country’s 41 years of progress. This agenda, built on seven pillars, including Water Security and a Just Energy Transition, aims to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability.
She also announced the upcoming Global Sustainable Island Summit, to be hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis in partnership with Island Innovation in May 2025. The summit will serve as a critical moment for island nations to drive forward actions and solidify commitments toward sustainable development and survival.
Dr Clarke reiterated the importance of anchoring decisions in justice, equity, inclusivity, and peace. She called on the international community to recognise that for small islands, “now more than ever” truly means “this is the now that islands have feared more than ever.”
The honourable minister said that St. Kitts and Nevis remains committed to harmonising human existence with nature through transparent, urgent action. The future of the planet depends on the decisions made today, and Dr Clarke stressed the importance of delivering a world fit for prosperity and peace for generations to come.