The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), co-chaired by New Zealand and the Maldives, will take place from 27 to 30 May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda under the theme “Charting the Course Towards Resilient Prosperity”. The conference aims to assess the ability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Building on previous agreements for SIDS, such as the SAMOA Pathway (2014), the conference will result in an action-oriented political outcome document.
At SIDS4, with support from the ISC SIDS Liaison Committee and the Regional Focal Points for Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, the ISC will work to mobilize the scientific community in SIDS and ensure that research on and from SIDS is brought to the attention of global policy-makers. The Council will also emphasize the importance of science and technology for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in these countries, and the leadership role that SIDS countries play in global environmental leadership and sustainable development.
Learn more:
From shores to horizons: Empowering science for the future of Large Ocean States
This declaration by the ISC SIDS Liaison Committee calls for increased international support and collaboration to enhance the visibility, capacity, and integration of science in SIDS, driving sustainable development and resilience in the face of unique challenges.
International Science Council, 2024. From Shores to Horizons: Empowering Science for the future of Large Ocean States. Paris, International Science Council.
events 
events Get acquainted with some of the key people from the ISC community attending the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States.
Policy Brief: Global Sea-Level Rise
This policy brief sheds light on key considerations for policy-makers on a wide range of issues related to sea-level rise, highlighting the value of engaging actionable, interdisciplinary scientific knowledge in responding to current and future challenges.
The ISC at INC-4: Plastic treaty negotiations must prioritize health
With the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the scientific community underscores the critical need to prioritize health in the ongoing negotiations.
Policy Brief: A call for a formal scientific voice in the global fight against plastic pollution
The ISC has developed a new policy brief to guide the current negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution. The brief aims to advance a science-based approach ensuring the instrument is based on the latest and best scientific evidence available.
Preparing National Research Ecosystems for AI: Strategies and progress in 2024
The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the integration of artificial intelligence in science and research across various countries. It addresses both the advancements made and the challenges faced in this field, making it a valuable read for science leaders, policy-makers, AI professionals, and academics. Submit your feedback on the working paper, which will be reviewed and considered for the follow up edition due later in the year.
Protecting science in times of crisis
This report addresses the urgent need for a new approach to safeguard science and its practitioners during global crises. With many conflicts spread over vast geographical zones; increasing extreme weather events due to climate change; and natural hazards such as earthquakes in unprepared regions, this new report takes stock of what we have learned in recent years from our collective efforts to protect scientists and scientific institutions during times of crisis.
