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The SIDS have been facing problems such as narrow resource
bases, vulnerability to natural hazards, high external debt, difficulties
in conforming to sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, overexploitation
of forest and marine resources, high population growth and mobility,
relative poverty, skilled human resource scarcity and weak institutional
capacities (SIDSNet 2003a). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO
2003a) reportedthat the SIDS are increasingly dependent on food imports
while the rates of nutrition-related health problems are growing.
Climate change, including sea level rise and vulnerability to natural
disasters such as hurricanes, is a major concern (Box 1). It has been
projected that sea levels will increase by half a metre by 2100, severely
threatening islands and low-lying coastal states and the very existence
of some SIDS. If the sea level rises in the Maldives, for example, a
large proportion of the landmass could disappear over the next 30 years,
and be completely submerged by 2100 (IPCC 2001).Climate change and sea
level rise are also expected to have adverse impacts on other natural
resources of SIDS, such as land, freshwater,forests, and coastal and
marine areas (IPCC 2001).
Box 1: Forum highlights climate change
concerns |
At the 34th
Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Auckland in August 2003, the
SIDS countries adopted a communique, which highlighted among several
concerns, those of climate change, climate variability and sea
level rise.
The communique stressed the need for:
- urgent
action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and for further
commitments in the future by all major emitters;
- all countries
to commit to a global effort to reduce GHG emissions and the
adverse impacts of climate change, taking into account the special
circumstances of SIDS;
- Forum members
to advocate internationally for immediate reductions and limits
to GHG emissions at levels that will prevent dangerous interference
and for the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific
to continue to provide support at the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) related meetings;
- a range
of adoption options, particularly for extreme weather and climate
events, that are maintained and well funded, including through
the Global Environment Facility; and
- being
proactive and developing appropriate, affordable, and cost-effective
adaptation response measures immediately with support from relevant
regional and national institutions.
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| Source: SIDSNet
2003b |
Global warming is also likely to lead to an increase
in maximum tropical cyclone wind speeds and lower central pressures,
leading to more damaging storm surges.
The Pacific, Caribbean, and the AIMS (theAtlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean
and the South China Seas) regions of SIDS reported in 2003 on their
growing vulnerability. Meeting in August 2003, the Pacific SIDS noted
that the vulnerability of SIDS has not only increased over the last
decade but their resilience has not improved (SIDSNet 2003c).
SIDS have been trying to respond to these challenges by implementing
various measures. Governments in the AIMS region reported in 2003 that
they have been developing climate change action plans and identifying
their most vulnerable sites, with some countries implementing adaptation
measures. All countries in the region have submitted their initial national
communications to the UNFCCC (SIDSNet 2003d). A meeting of the AIMS
countries in Cape Verde in September 2003 noted the increasing risk
of the adverse effects of climate change, highlighting the urgency for
the international community to ratify and fully implement the Kyoto
Protocol. They also recognized the need to identify and develop policies
that build SIDS’ resilience, redressing vulnerability comprehensively.
This includes the need to diversify economies and address security concerns.
(SIDSNet 2003d).Some AIMS countries have established national early
warning systems and disaster mitigation plans, including national and
regional oil spill contingency plans. However, national capacity is
unlikely to cope with the growing frequency of extreme weather events,
and the costs associated with rehabilitation. The meeting, therefore,
called for further international assistance to develop capacity for
national disaster mitigation preparedness and create appropriate insurance
and re-insurance
schemes for SIDS (SIDSNet 2003d).
The Caribbean SIDS consider that, to build resilience,
there is a need:
 for assistance
from the international community to develop climate change models at
scales appropriate to SIDS to better plan for adaptation to climate
change;
to mainstream
adaptation to climate change into various sectors, particularly agriculture,fisheries,
health and water resources management;
to incorporate
climate change adaptation concerns in national sustainable development
plans; and
to improve
public education and awareness of climate change issues in the region
(UNDESA 2003).
Concern over the vulnerability of the environment in SIDS has also
led to the development of the Environment Vulnerability Index (EVI),
which reflects a country’s environmental vulnerability to damage
and degradation. Development of the EVI is being undertaken by the South
Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), and preliminary results
were released in 2003 (Kaly and others 2003). The results confirmed
that SIDS are among the most vulnerable countries in the world.
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