STOCKHOLM +50 Plenary Statement

Delivered by H. E. Secretary Kandhi A. Elieisar

Excellencies,

Distinguish Delegates

All Protocol Observed

1. It gives me much pleasure today to deliver this statement on behalf of the Government and the People of the Federated States of Micronesia.
2. At the outset, I wish to pay my respect and sentiments of goodwill to all who are in attendance on and offline to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and to celebrate fifty years of global environmental action.
3. Over the past years, the entire world has witnessed the Coronavirus Pandemic that has caused countries to shut down their borders including the Federated States of Micronesia. I am proud to announce that the Federated States of Micronesia remains one of the fortunate few countries in the world without a confirmed case, but this has not come without tremendous costs as we continue to redirect limited resources to addressing health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic. For countries who lost precious human lives, I express sincere condolences and hope for comfort to all who lost loved ones to the pandemic.
4.  As a member of the United Nations, I want to re-affirm that the Federated States of Micronesia remains grateful and appreciative of the unique role of the United Nations in bringing all of us together with equal voice to tackle global environmental challenges including how we can work together to ensure a healthy planet and a better future for us and our posterity for generations to come. The President of my country, His Excellency David W. Panuelo, often uses the motto “paradise in our backyard” to describe the importance of a holistic approach to people and their surroundings.
5. Excellencies, for our part, Federated States of Micronesia heeds the urgent need to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants. It is the sole purpose for the Federated States of Micronesia to sign onto the multilateral environment agreement at the Rio Convention and later takes the leading role in other protocols and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment, and making sure implementation and required obligations as a party are fulfilled. This commitment eventually leads to the creation of a national entity now called the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Emergency Management, with the mandate to fulfill multi-lateral environment commitments in partnership with all stakeholders.
6. As part of our national efforts in ensuring that implementation on sustainable development continues, Federated States of Micronesia has managed to secure projects from donors, both bilateral and multi-lateral partners, for funding mechanisms to continue implementation of the sustainable development goals during this Decade of Action.
7. Federated States of Micronesia recently reinforces its commitment by signing up to the Micronesia Challenge 2030 expanded goals that go beyond the effective management of marine and terrestrial areas which include increasing sustainable livelihoods expansion, namely the Blue Prosperity Micronesia Program.
8. Waste Management is one of the important components in having a healthy, plastic free and marine pollution-free environment; thus, Federated States of Micronesia engages in the newly adopted Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee towards a new global agreement aligning with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs addressing marine litter and plastic pollution.
9. Excellencies, I cannot overemphasize the importance and the urgent need for bold actions to achieve a healthy planet and prosperity for all. Our collective presence in this conference signifies that as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) we remain a special case for sustainable development due to our multidimensional vulnerabilities. 
10. Thank you.