Follow-up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States A/RES/73/228 Reaffirming that small island developing States remain a special case for sustainable development, in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities, and that they remain constrained in meeting their goals in all three dimensions of sustainable development, and recognizing the ownership and leadership of small island developing States in overcoming some of these challenges, while stressing that, in the absence of international cooperation, achieving success will remain difficult, Recognizing climate change as one of the drivers of disaster risk, and reaffirming the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the face of disasters, Acknowledging that climate change and sea level rise continue to pose a significant risk to small island developing States and their efforts to achieve sustainable development and, for some, represent the gravest threat to their survival and viability, Welcoming the Paris Agreement, 11 and encouraging all its parties to fully implement the Agreement, and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 12 that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, where appropriate, as soon as possible, Highlighting the synergies between the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, and noting with concern the scientific findings contained in the special report entitled Global Warming of 1.5°C of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Looking forward to the climate summit called for by the Secretary-General, to be held in New York in 2019, to accelerate global action on climate change, Taking note of the important relationship between the ocean and climate change, including the Ocean Pathway initiative, launched on the margins of the twenty-third session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Reiterating the call upon all stakeholders to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development by, inter alia, accelerating actions to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris, plastics and microplastics, nutrient pollution, untreated wastewater, solid waste discharges, hazardous substances, pollution from ships and abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear, while at the same time recognizing that small island developing States are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of marine pollution, Reaffirming that oceans and seas, along with coastal areas, form an essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are intrinsically linked to sustainable development, and reaffirming also that healthy, productive and resilient oceans and coasts are critical for, inter alia, poverty eradication, access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, livelihoods, economic development and essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, and represent an important element of identity and culture for the people of small island developing States, Recognizing the importance of water and sanitation for sustainable development, especially in atoll nations, to address the range of issues around sea level rise, salt water intrusion and changes in rainfall patterns, and in this regard __________________ 11 12 18-22551 Adopted under the UNFCCC in FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 3/9