Statement by H.E. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Open Debate of the Security Council on
Peace and Security Challenges Facing Small Island Developing States
30 July 2015

 

Thank you, Mr. President,

 

       At the Security Council Arria-formula Meeting on Climate Change which was held last month, many countries including Japan, pointed out that climate change can act as a threat multiplier to natural disasters and other phenomena, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). For example, the rise of sea levels caused by climate change can pose a threat to a nation’s existence. This should be regarded as an issue of national and regional security. It is also important to address other issues, such as development, disaster risk reduction and the illicit exploitation of natural resources.

 

       To help SIDS overcome the above challenges, Japan has made efforts in this field. Let me elaborate.

 

       First, we served as a bureau member of the preparatory committee of the Third International Conference on SIDS, held in Samoa in September last year. Japan has committed itself to helping implement recommendations made at the Conference, which include addressing the priorities of SIDS, such as climate change and disaster risk reduction. We pledged to train 5,000 experts from SIDS on these issues over the next three years.

 

       Secondly, in May of this year, Japan held the Seventh Pacific Island Leaders Meeting  in Iwaki, Fukushima. At this summit meeting, the participating leaders discussed issues of priority, such as disaster risk reduction, climate change and maritime issues and fisheries. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that Japan would provide development assistance amounting to 55 billion yen over the next three years for the priorities of the Pacific SIDS.

 

       We also announced our intention to provide assistance for the development of the Pacific Climate Change Centre and capacity-building which supports the efforts to tackle climate change by the Pacific region as a whole.

 

       Thirdly, Japan’s efforts to support SIDS is not limited to the Pacific region. Prime Minister Abe visited Trinidad and Tobago and held the first Japan-CARICOM Summit Meeting in July of 2014. Prime Minister Abe recognized the importance of assisting CARICOM Member States from criteria other than those based on per-capita income, considering their particular vulnerabilities as SIDS. At that occasion, Japan announced grant aid of 1.5 billion yen in climate change for eight Caribbean states in partnership with UNDP. As expressed at the Summit, Japan will continue to enhance its assistance to CARICOM Member States in disaster risk reduction, environment and energy.

 

       Finally, Japan hosted the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in June 2013. Japan’s assistance in the framework of TICAD V for African SIDS includes the installation of a climate radar system and prevention support for coastal erosion. We have been steadily implementing our commitments.

 

Mr. President,

 

       As I have outlined, Japan has been actively working on the issues of SIDS around the world and we will continue to support them with our partners in the U.N. System to address their current and future challenges.

 

I thank you very much.