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Small Island Developing States

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Map of the Small Island Developing States

The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a grouping of developing countries which are small island countries and small states that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges. These include small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on international trade, and fragile environments. Their growth and development are also held back by high communication, energy and transportation costs, irregular international transport volumes, disproportionately expensive public administration and infrastructure due to their small size, and little to no opportunity to create economies of scale. They consist of some of the most vulnerable countries to anthropogenic climate change.

The SIDS were first recognized as a distinct group of developing countries at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992. The Barbados Programme of Action was produced in 1994 to assist the SIDS in their sustainable development efforts. The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) represents the group of states.[1]

List of SIDS

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As of 2023, the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) lists 57 such nations (39 sovereign states and 18 dependent territories).[2] These nations are grouped into three geographical regions: the Caribbean;[3] the Pacific;[4] and Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS),[5] including 18 Associate Members of the United Nations Regional Commissions. Each of these regions has a regional cooperation body: the Caribbean Community, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Indian Ocean Commission respectively, which many SIDS are members or associate members of. In addition, most (but not all) SIDS are members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which performs lobbying and negotiating functions for the SIDS within the United Nations System.

Caribbean Pacific Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS)
 Anguilla[a][b][c]  American Samoa[c][d][e]  Cape Verde[e]
 Antigua and Barbuda  Cook Islands[c]  Comoros[f]
 Aruba[c][g][h]  Fiji  Guinea-Bissau[e][f][i]
 Bahamas  French Polynesia[a][b][c]  Maldives[h]
 Barbados  Guam[c][d][e]  Mauritius
 Belize[i]  Kiribati[f]  São Tomé and Príncipe[e][f]
 Bermuda[c]  Marshall Islands  Seychelles
 British Virgin Islands[a][b][c]  Micronesia  Singapore[e]
 Cayman Islands[c]  Nauru
 Cuba[e]  New Caledonia[a][b][c]
 Curaçao[c]  Niue[c]
 Dominica  Northern Mariana Islands[a][c][e]
 Dominican Republic[h]  Palau
 Grenada  Papua New Guinea
 Guadeloupe[j]  Samoa
 Guyana[i]  Solomon Islands[f]
 Haiti[f]  Timor-Leste[a][f][h]
 Jamaica  Tonga
 Martinique[j]  Tuvalu[f]
 Montserrat[a][c]  Vanuatu
 Puerto Rico[a][c][h]
 Saint Kitts and Nevis
 Saint Lucia
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
 Sint Maarten[c]
 Suriname[i]
 Trinidad and Tobago
 Turks and Caicos Islands[c]
 U.S. Virgin Islands[c][d][e]

Impacts of climate change

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Main article: Effects of climate change on small island countries
3rd International Conference on Small Island Developing States, Samoa, September 2014

The SIDS are some of the regions most vulnerable to anthropogenic climate change. Due to their oceanic environment, SIDS are especially vulnerable to the marine effects of climate change like sea level rise, ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, and the increase in cyclone intensity. Changing precipitation patterns could also cause droughts. Many citizens of SIDS live near a coastline, meaning that they have a high risk exposure to the effects of marine climate change. Additional climate change vulnerability comes through their economies: many SIDS have economies that are based on natural resources, such as ecotourism, fishing, or agriculture. Phenomena like sea level rise, coastal erosion, and severe storms have the potential to severely impact their economies.[7]

In addition to these vulnerabilities, the energy sector in SIDS faces unique challenges and opportunities, particularly in the least-electrified regions. According to the March 2024 IRENA report, "Small Island Developing States at a Crossroads: Towards Equitable Energy Access in Least-Electrified Countries," these states, which contribute less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, are exploring decentralized renewable energy solutions to address their energy access issues. Technologies such as biomass gasification, small-scale hydro, and solar PV not only offer paths to reduce their carbon footprint but also enhance resilience against climate impacts. The report highlights case studies from Guinea-Bissau, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu, showing significant socio-economic benefits from improved energy access, including increased income opportunities for rural women and reduced indoor air pollution. These advancements are crucial as they not only provide immediate relief but also contribute to long-term sustainability and resilience against future climate challenges."[8]

Sustainable Development Goals

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Small island development states are mentioned in several of the Sustainable Development Goals.[9] For example, Target 7 of Sustainable Development Goal 14 ("Life below Water") states: "By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism".[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Neither member nor observer of the Alliance of Small Island States
  2. ^ a b c d Associate member of regional cooperation body
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Dependent territories
  4. ^ a b c Observer of the Alliance of Small Island States
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Neither member nor observer of regional cooperation body
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Also a least developed country
  7. ^ Observer of the Alliance of Small States as part of the Netherlands Antilles
  8. ^ a b c d e Observer of regional cooperation body
  9. ^ a b c d Belize, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, and Suriname are included even though they are not island countries. This may be because they are low-lying coastal countries whose economies are dependent on a small number of activities. Their classification as SIDS is controversial.[6]
  10. ^ a b Overseas departments and regions of France

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States |". United Nations. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  2. ^ "List of SIDS | Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States". United Nations. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  3. ^ "The Caribbean". Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Archived from the original on Feb 3, 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ^ "The Pacific". Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Archived from the original on Feb 3, 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. ^ "The AIMS". Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Archived from the original on Feb 3, 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  6. ^ "What makes a SIDS a SIDS – UNCTAD Development and Globalization: Facts and Figures 2021". Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  7. ^ Thomas, Adelle; Baptiste, April; Martyr-Koller, Rosanne; Pringle, Patrick; Rhiney, Kevon (2020-10-17). "Climate Change and Small Island Developing States". Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 45 (1): 1–27. doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-083355. ISSN 1543-5938.
  8. ^ "Small Island Developing States at a Crossroads: Towards equitable energy access in least-electrified countries". www.irena.org. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  9. ^ United Nations (2017) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/71/313)
  10. ^ United Nations (2017) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/71/313)
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