Islands First celebrated its official establishment today at a luncheon hosted by the Palau Mission in the UN Delegates Dining Room. Attendees from ten Pacific Small Island Developing States spoke in turn about the problems facing small islands and the role for Islands First. Representatives from several foundations and media organizations supporting Islands First were also in attendance.

Addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations at the High Level Debate on Climate Change, H.E. Stuart Beck, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Palau, urged Security Council action on the issue in a speech today. Citing the "litany of disasters" faced by nations across the globe and the articles of the UN Charter obligating the Security Council to act, Ambassador Beck made clear that failure to do so poses an existential threat to many small island nations.

Ambassador Beck introduces the mission of Islands First, a new organization dedicated to assisting the Small Island Developing States confront the environmental threats facing their nations.