From rising seas to disappearing forests, the world’s small island developing states are facing some of the fiercest fallout from the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
But many of these countries are fighting back. In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) more than 30 island nations are launching ambitious efforts to save ecosystems, rein in pollution and adapt to a fast-changing climate, all while jumpstarting their economies.
“At UNEP, we are not just supporting small island developing states – we are standing shoulder to shoulder with them to chart a bold path where economic development is inseparable from ecological resilience,” said Sinikinesh Jimma, acting head of UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater Branch.
“Together, we are building futures that honour the needs of today while protecting biodiversity and its vital ecosystem services generations to come.”
The relationship is a two-way street; 20 small island developing states contribute to UNEP’s Environment Fund, the organization’s core source of funding. Last year, the world adopted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States, which charts a course towards sustainable, resilient development. Here are five ways UNEP is helping to translate the agenda’s global targets into action on the ground.
1. Restoring vibrant ecosystems
From tropical rainforests and labyrinthian mangroves to white-sand beaches and rainbow-colored reefs, small island developing states are home to some of nature’s most stunning natural spaces. Yet, across island states, the accelerating loss of biodiversity is unraveling ecosystems, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable to climate change, economic instability and pandemics.
But several projects, driven by UNEP and partners, are underway to reverse this.
In the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, communities are working with partners to revive seabird colonies. The birds produce nutrients that support the health of indigenous vegetation, which helps shield islands from sea-level rise.
Meanwhile, across Saint Lucia, 5,000 hectares of forest and coastal ecosystems and 2,000 hectares of marine ecosystems are being brought under sustainable management, with similar efforts in the Bahamas, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The UNEP/FAO-led SIDS Restoration Flagship in Comoros, Saint Lucia and Vanuatu is expected to restore marine and coastal ecosystems while spurring sustainable blue economic growth. As part of the SIDS Flagship, the Restoration Factory, will soon help young local entrepreneurs grow businesses rooted in ecological restoration.
2. Saving coral reefs
Coral reefs, the backbone of many marine ecosystems, are disappearing at an alarming rate; climate change could kill 90 per cent of these ecosystems by 2050. Though small island developing states account for less than 1 per cent of the Earth’s land area, they are home to nearly 30 per cent of the world’s coral reefs, making their protection vital to global biodiversity.
The Global Fund for Coral Reefs, which supports reef-friendly businesses and financial mechanisms, has deployed more than US$100 million to help protect and reduce stressors on 1.3 million hectares of coral reefs globally, including in countries such as the Bahamas, the Federated States of Micronesia Fiji, Maldives, Seychelles, Palau and Papua New Guinea. The Seychelles and Solomon Islands are expected to soon receive support from the fund, which finances everything from barramundi farming in Sri Lanka to accelerating ecotourism in the Federated States of Micronesia.
3. Advancing early warning systems
When major storms approach the island nation of Timor-Leste, a network of radars and ocean sensors forecast their path, while warnings are sent to citizens through megaphones, signboards, social media, radio and mobile alerts. This initiative is one of several early-warning systems for natural disasters developed with support from UNEP in small island developing states. The push is part of the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warning for All Initiative – an effort to cover everyone on Earth with early warning systems by 2027. A core part of UNEP’s work is building public trust in the warning systems. In Vanuatu, for example, communities are helping to improve forecasts by adding traditional knowledge and real-time observations to scientific measurements.
4. Curbing pollution
With limited land and some of the highest waste management costs anywhere on Earth, small island developing states already face steep challenges in handling their own waste. But they are also forced to manage waste from the rest of the world. Ocean currents and trade winds bring vast amounts of marine litter – mostly plastic pollution – onto their shores. To combat this, UNEP is working closely with island states to tackle pollution on a multitude of fronts. That includes restricting single-use plastic products in tourism through the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, transforming municipal waste management through circular economy models, improving the management of waste and chemicals, and supporting the creation of robust national waste management plans.
5. Prospering with nature
Many small island developing states have the foundation for strong, sustainable economies, from tourism to fisheries to agriculture. But these industries rely on clean, healthy and resilient ecosystems. With support from UNEP, small island developing states are prioritizing the reduction of super pollutants, including methane and black carbon, to improve local air quality.
In Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, UNEP has secured US$4.4 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility to scale up electric public transport and develop sustainable urban mobility plans. Meanwhile, the UNEP-developed Sustainable Blue Economy Transition Framework is channeling US$75.6 million across small island developing states into ocean-friendly economic growth.
UNEP is also working to strengthen the ocean governance capacity of countries, including by supporting the ratification of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. This agreement fosters the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in international waters, which benefits small island state economies. “We are working together to make sure small island developing states – the world’s big oceanic states – have the science, tools, partnerships and policy support they need to continue rising as leaders of environmental action,” said Jimma.