Impact of Climate Change on Small Island Developing States
Recently the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and other developing countries have been concerned about the lack of progress in funding for loss and damage.
- According to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), developed countries have shied away from financing losses and damages.
- Loss and damage financing is money paid by countries that have benefited economically from investing in fossil fuels.
- This money is paid to countries that face direct unavoidable loss and permanent damage from climate change.
- Many small island states have also asked large developing countries such as China and India to contribute funds to deal with the loss and damage.
- India argues that the responsibility to provide assistance such as financial, technical, capacity building etc. is based on its cumulative contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
- According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), India’s share in cumulative emissions is less than 4 per cent.
- Developed countries led by the US want the loss and damage to be financed through existing financial instruments. They do not support the establishment of any new system.
What is SIDS?
- SIDS is an exclusive group of 58 island nations located in the Caribbean Sea and on islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- They face special social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities due to their geophysical and structural limitations.
- SIDS was recognized as a separate group of developing countries in June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
- The problems of SIDS have been highlighted in ‘The Future We Want’ adopted at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
- The United Nations Environment Assembly was formed in June 2012. It is noteworthy that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development is also called RIO+20 or RIO 2012.
Initiatives taken for SIDS
- The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is setting up the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) for small island developing states.
- It aims to provide quality technical and financial services to these island nations to make their infrastructure climate change and disaster resilient.
- The United Nations has launched initiatives such as the Barbados Program of Action, the Mauritius Strategy, the Samoa (SAMOA) Pathway, etc.
Support from intergovernmental organizations: Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).
Source – The Hindu
