About
Small island developing states (SIDS) consist of three sub-groups: the Caribbean SIDS, the Pacific SIDS, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIS) SIDS.
Due to unique, inherent and extreme vulnerabilities, including small size, remoteness, and relatively narrow resource and export base, as well as disproportionate exposure to external shocks (economic, social and environmental), all of which result in significant economic and infrastructure damage, loss of lives and displacement of people, SIDS face a unique suite of challenges with respect to achieving sustainable development goals.
Recognizing these unique challenges, there is a great need to enhance the resiliency of SIDS in the face of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, increased pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Why Does it Matter?
Despite progress made by many SIDS in advancing the environmental dimension of the SAMOA Pathway, a comprehensive and collaborative approach is needed. Alignment of SIDS’ efforts on economic growth, environmental sustainability, social well-being, and climate resilience with, inter alia, UN Sustainable Development Frameworks and commitments made in relevant global and regional multilateral environmental agreements, including on the marine environment, is a priority.
Co-lead by the Governments of Cabo Verde, Samoa and Seychelles, the SIDS Coalition for Nature is a platform created for SIDS members to advocate as ONE for agreed common SIDS priorities and needs, including the needs for greater means to implement biodiversity objectives in SIDS. Supported by UNEP, UNESCO, UNDESA and the UNFCCC, the coalition was launched in the margins of the CBD (Convention of Biological Diversity) CoP15 in December 2022. Its membership is currently at 14 and growing. The Coalition is an important organizing mechanism to unite SIDS members around critical biodiversity issues and implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework targets.
Specific goals of the coalition include accelerating biodiversity mainstreaming across sectors and synergies across the three Rio Conventions, and strengthening SIDS-SIDS interregional and intraregional cooperation, peer learning and policy dialogue on nature conservation to expand SIDS best practices and nature-based solutions at scale.
The SIDS Coalition for Nature is already a partner to and is a key component of the SIDS Restoration Flagship. UNEP and the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) support SIDS-SIDS peer learning and have committed to delivering funds to the Flagship.
In support of SIDS-focused initiatives and to advance the SAMOA Pathway, UNEP recognizes the importance of transitioning to a sustainable blue economy and delivering on landmark nature agreements, including the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the High Seas Treaty.
What We Do?
Recognizing the importance of SIDS and their vulnerabilities and unique challenges, UNEP is working to support SIDS in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals along with the objectives of the SAMOA Pathway, Barbados Programme of Action, Mauritius Strategy and United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 2/4, as well as United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution A/RES/69/15. This includes work to align SIDS’ efforts on economic growth, environmental sustainability, social well-being, and climate resilience.
To ensure success, the United Nations system must support SIDS at national and regional levels within a global framework for delivery in complementarity with existing governance platforms including Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement or the newly adopted Agreement for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty).
UNEP has been supporting the development and implementation of legal and collaborative frameworks and strategic planning to address plastic pollution in several countries, including SIDS such as Saint Lucia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago and Solomon Islands. The countries are assisted to develop national plastic source inventories to identify key intervention areas of plastic pollution and establish strategies, building on collected data and information. Additionally, national and regional capacity development activities are designed, taking into consideration SIDS' unique circumstances and needs. These activities to strengthen national capacities are supported by enhancing countries’ access to data and knowledge through the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) Digital Platform, while countries’ networking and information exchange are promoted to ensure wider knowledge sharing.
UNEP is the lead agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Islands Programme “Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States” (ISLANDS) and is supporting 33 island nations in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian and Pacific regions to improve chemicals and waste management. The programme is implemented by UNEP, UNDP, FAO, and IDB alongside executing agencies. ISLANDS will safely dispose of over 200,000 tonnes of hazardous products and 17,000 tonnes of toxic chemicals, including POPs. It will also lead to the avoidance of nearly 90 tonnes of mercury. Through co-finance activities it will avoid over 300,000 tonnes of marine litter - mostly plastics.
UNEP has further been supporting the development and implementation of legal and collaborative frameworks and strategic planning to address plastic pollution several countries, including in SIDS such as Saint Lucia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago and Solomon Islands. UNEP helps countries to develop national plastic source inventories to identify key intervention areas of plastic pollution and establish strategies building on collected data and information. Additionally, national and regional capacity development activities are designed and provided, considering SIDS' special circumstances and needs. These activities to strengthen national capacities are supported by enhancing countries’ access to data and knowledge through the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) Digital Platform, while countries’ networking and information exchange are promoted to ensure wider knowledge sharing.
A priority action area for consideration in the Samoa Pathway is support to SIDS in the transition to a more sustainable blue economy. UNEP is developing a novel approach and capacity building resource to support Member States in transitioning to environmentally sustainable, resilient, and equitable blue economies. It provides a ‘Sustainable Blue Economy Transition Framework’, which outlines core elements and enabling conditions to design and initiate steps toward sustainable, resilient and equitable blue economy that is tailored to countries’ unique settings and needs. As part of this framework approach, UNEP, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat Blue Charter Programme, is developing a ‘Rapid Readiness Assessment’ tool to better understand a country’s existing legal framework, institutional mechanisms and political landscape to identify gaps and recommendations for priority actions, including resource needs. This new ’rapid readiness’ approach has already been tested in two SIDS countries, Antigua & Barbuda and Trinidad & Tobago, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Blue Charter Program. Potentially, more SIDS countries might be interested in piloting the SBE Transition framework.
UNEP is committed to helping island nations enhance the protection, restoration and sustainable use of their shorelines using nature-based solutions to maximize natural resilience to climate change impacts while also promoting a sustainable blue economy for local communities dependent on marine resources for their livelihoods.
Resolutions and Governance Mechanisms Connected to UNEP’s Work for SIDS
- A/RES/69/15.SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway
- 2016 UNEA Resolution 2/4 “Role, functions, and modalities for UNEP implementation of the SAMOA Pathway as a means of facilitating achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal
“Related to” Topics (Climate Action, Pollution Action, etc.,)
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Nature Action
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Climate Action
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Pollution Action
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Freshwater
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Disasters & Conflict
