The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 marked the first time that the special characteristics of SIDS were paid significant attention and were recognized as a distinct group. In 1994, the first Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS was held in Barbados, under the auspices of the United Nations. It resulted in the adoption of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA), which recognized the unique and particular vulnerabilities of SIDS and identified the sustainable development challenges SIDS face. The BPOA explicitly identified key areas requiring urgent action.