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Overview. Derives from Barbados Program of ActionSIDS are a special case for environment and developmentSIDS priorities and progressSpecial disadvantages of SIDS. The Special Case for SIDS for Environment and Development. 1994 Barbados Conference mandated by 1992 Rio Earth Summit and Agenda 21Mo
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1. Small Island Developing StatesSIDS
2. Overview Derives from Barbados Program of Action
SIDS are a special case for environment and development
SIDS priorities and progress
Special disadvantages of SIDS
3. The Special Case for SIDS for Environment and Development 1994 Barbados Conference mandated by 1992 Rio Earth Summit and Agenda 21
More than 120 countries wrote a Declaration and Program of Action calling on island nations and the international community to tackle SIDS issues in partnership
A Secretariat in the UN was established
4. What was Stated? Clear articulation of the constraints and opportunities faced by SIDS
SIDS have wide differences, yet common sets of issues emerged
International recognition of the special case of SIDS for environment and development
Also, the vulnerability of SIDS given prominence
5. Small Islands, Big Issues Small islands, big issues, was the slogan of the Barbados Conference in 1994
SIDS are on the forefront of global environmental consciousness raising and the global struggle to protect the environment and pursue sustainable development
Small islands are microcosms for our world
If we can find solutions to the special vulnerabilities of islands, it will help us address more global problems
6. Sustainable Development in Context of SIDS SIDS face the same constraints but to different extent
SIDS are ecologically fragile and vulnerable
Natural environments of SIDS are more vulnerable to natural and human-induced hazards
Hazards adversely affect the health of ecosystems at rates and intensities above those found elsewhere around the globe
This greater tendency for damage sets SIDS apart from most other countries and translates into greater challenges and complexities of sustainable development
7. Common Problem Area Priorities Degradation of coastal and marine resources (coral reefs, inshore fisheries, coastal habitats)
Climate change and sea level rise
Freshwater resources -- preventing worsening shortages of freshwater as demand grows
Excessive human population density
Loss of biological diversity (both marine and terrestrial)
Land and sea-based pollution
8. SIDS Recommendations SIDS should establish national land use plans and integrate planning
watershed and coastal protection
enforce existing laws
Institutional strengthening and capacity to deal with environmental issues
International action on cooperation, inter-regional support and training
Community-centered environmental initiatives
Increase awareness on environmental problems
9. Progress Problems of small island developing states now get attention of international community
Improved coordination at regional levels
Strengthened regional legal frameworks to deal with common environmental concerns
Community-based environmental initiatives
Increased capacity of government to deal with environmental issues
Increased community awareness
10. Successful? 10 years after the Earth Summit the situation is worse
Sustainable development is ongoing struggle
11. Reasons for Lack of Progress Population pressures
Increased, but still limited cooperation
some regions have established frameworks, but have found difficulties in implementing
lack of sufficient financing
lack of information
insufficient financial support from international community
12. SIDS as Developing Countries Institutions are weak, budgets are inadequate. Rules and procedures may not exist, or dont work
The pace of environmental change is fast due to rapid population and development growth. This heightens the consequences of weakness in institutions since the environmental costs of growth accumulate more quickly
13. Environmental databases are inadequate or absent
There may be significant political barriers to full participation
Detailed management plans may be undermined by the sheer power of financial and political interests
14. Special Disadvantages of SIDS Smallness
Remoteness
Population structures, mobility
Susceptibility to natural disasters
Environmental factors
15. Dimensions of Smallness Population
Land area
Economy (GNP)
16. Disadvantages of Smallness: Natural Resource Endowments Natural resource endowments vary but, generally, narrow range of resources and dependence on imports of raw materials and commodities
Often subject to outside driven exploitation
Market prices not set locally
Very often raw materials are exported, not value-added goods
17. Reliance on few Commodities, few Sectors Small domestic market and dependence on export markets
Dominance of a few sectors (tourism, fisheries, bananas, copra, sugar)
Problems associated with excessive dependence on international trade
18. Trends in Agricultural Exports FAO has documented steady decline
in returns for primary product exports
in agricultural productivity
Agriculture sector as an employer declining
tourism more lucrative
it is hard work, and sector is mechanizing
19. Other Disadvantages of Smallness Limited ability to exploit economies of scale
Limitations on domestic competition
Costly public administration and infrastructure (small human resource base, per capita cost high, everyone knows each other well)
20. Remoteness High transportation and communication costs
Time delays and unreliability in transport services and provision of supplies
Competitive disadvantage
21. Natural Hazards Hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and landslides, volcanoes, drought
Impacts are larger in terms of area damaged and costs due to small size of the country devastation of agriculture, disruption of communication, loss of entire settlements
22. Pacific tropical cyclones (1960-1989)Cook Islands (15), Fiji (34), Solomon Islands (14), Tonga (15), Vanuatu (32), and Samoa (10)
Incidence of disasters is not growing, but the amount of damage from each event is growing
23. Environmental Factors Fragile ecosystems and low resistance to outside influences
Geographic isolation and endemic species
Low assimilative capacity
Large coastal zone to land area ratio
Linked terrestrial and coastal/marine systems
Low-lying areas
Limited freshwater reserves
24. Population Structures, Mobility Demographic changes are pronounced
within country urbanization
across island emigration
off island emigration
social upheaval, environmental impacts, brain drain
25. Vulnerability Index SIDS are more vulnerable than other groupings of countries
But, SIDS do well in terms of GDP per capita and Human Development Index
strategic importance of SIDS and artificial props to the economy (financial transfers, technical assistance, preferential market access)
flexibility of small islands in the face of changing circumstances