Islands in the storm

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the world’s nations that are most vulnerable to climate change. SIDS have neither the resources nor the expertise to effectively evaluate the risks associated with climate change, nor the ability to adapt to potential changes. Compared to islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, SIDS in the Indian Ocean and eastern Atlantic Ocean off of the west coast of Africa are among the poorest and least studied of the SIDS. In this United Nations supported study, five Indian Ocean SIDS (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Maldives) and two Atlantic Ocean SIDS (Cape Verde, and the Republic of Sao Tome & Principe) are evaluated for their vulnerability to climate change, with an emphasis on impacts on water resources and coastal zone resources. Due to significant differences between the SIDS studied in terms of size, topography, geology, precipitation, population density, storm patterns and intensities, relative sea level rise, indicators of wealth (such as GDP/capita), and other island characteristics, each SIDS faces its own unique challenges. This paper describes the major findings of the study. One important finding is that relative sea level rise at present appears most significant on one of the SIDS (Maldives), and a number of other SIDS appear to be emerging slightly at a rate high enough to presently offset the effects of global sea level rise. However, analysis shows that at sometime during the 21 st century, should sea level rise accelerate as climate models now suggest, that all the SIDS will become vulnerable to sea level change. Further, an existing stress on most of the SIDS is the human population density and tourism that have increased dramatically at most SIDS over the past several decades. Tourism provides both economic benefits to the islands, while at the same time tourists consume resources at rates typically far in excess of the native population. Therefore, stresses on water resources and the coastal zone due to human population are factored into the climate change stresses that are projected to increase over this century. Finally the paper describes capacity building efforts and strategies for adaptation that are intended to bring attention, resources, and expertise to the aid of the SIDS. One vehicle to do this is through the development of an Internet portal, eventually to be hosted and maintained by one of the SIDS.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are widely recognised as being very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In some manner, climate change will impact on the livelihoods of most individuals in the twenty-first century. Some of the risks for small islands are risk of death, injury, ill-health or disrupted livelihoods in low-lying coastal zones due to storm surges, coastal flooding, and sea level rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that in small islands, which have diverse physical and human attributes, community-based adaptation has been shown to generate larger benefits when delivered in conjunction with other developmental activities. One of the adaptive responses suggested is to improve the efficacy of traditional community coping strategies; this can be facilitated by social work intervention at the macro-level. The role of social workers in SIDS can impact on sustainable development and towards improved livelihoods of a country’s human resources. According to the Council on Social Work Education, the purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. This purpose is put into practice through a quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty and the enhancement and quality of life for all persons. Key strategies by which social workers can promote sustainable development include building relations with communities, helping individuals to deepen their understanding of sustainable development, and assisting them to develop and work towards goals and objectives that lead towards the integration and improvement of economic, social and environmental outcomes.

A locally relevant framework for assessing the risk of sea level rise under changing temperature conditions: Application in New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face multiple developmental challenges including the adverse impacts of climate change. Among these complex challenges is the critical issue of devising strategies and plans to achieve water resource sustainability. The combined effects of hydro-climatic hazards such as droughts, rising sea levels, floods and increasing socio-economic pressures have already begun to adversely impact on SIDS water resources. This review article examined studies on ten English-speaking Caribbean SIDS to explore challenges and opportunities for enhancing water resource sustainability in the Caribbean and to identify emerging research gaps. A desk review and synthesis of existing data and available literature including reports, policy documents, peer-reviewed journal articles and books published over the last ten years were conducted to highlight research gaps in water resource sustainability. The conclusion presents a way forward for SIDS to cope with the consequences of climate change on their vital water resources. The findings from this paper can inform regional polices, strategies and plan and direct research to critical areas where information is needed to support evidenced-based decision making. The review is useful for academics, policymakers and practitioners.

Climate effects on health in Small Islands Developing States

In the international climate change negotiations, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have emerged as a credible group through the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) and have called for a global temperature rise of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. Whatever the outcomes of the negotiations, they are exacerbated by climate change and a rising sea level. Many share common characteristics of small size, high population density, limited land resources, vulnerability to natural hazards, threatened biodiversity, high dependence on tourism, and limited funds and human resources. The suggestions put forward for a research agenda for the SIDS include a comprehensive assessment of the SIDS as a group, a focused attention on oceans, increased development on renewable energy, inclusion of climate adaptation under natural disaster reduction, a strategy of ‘save some islands rather than not to have any’ for some SIDS, and large‐scale modular mangrove planting for coastal protection and adaptation to sea‐level rise. These suggestions could provide an expanded scope of adaptation for the SIDS. WIREs Clim Change 2011 2 1–6 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.84This article is categorized under: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Learning from Cases and Analogies Climate and Development > Knowledge and Action in Development

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are champions on the global stage of sustainable and equitable ocean management. This paper addresses the contributions of SIDS to the negotiation and development of the legally binding agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). Firstly, we reflect on how SIDS claimed space and asserted voice during the negotiation process. We illustrate SIDS’ emergence as active, effective and influential participants in the BBNJ negotiation process, highlighting issues key for SIDS such as special circumstances of SIDS as a principle, special considerations relating elements of the Agreement’s package, and representation on key institutional structures. Secondly, we analyse how and why SIDS created space and gave voice to important topics for equity in the agreement - such as transparency, participation, traditional knowledge, gender, and effective capacity building and technology transfer. We argue that these contributions by SIDS stand to benefit the implementation of the agreement as a whole. Thirdly, we look ahead to consider how SIDS might cement space and maintain voice, including in relation to promoting SIDS expertise in implementation, enabling knowledge exchange between SIDS negotiators, and filling capacity and financing shortfalls in SIDS. Our analysis illustrates a strategic approach of internal coordination geared towards targeted external influence that served SIDS well during the negotiations and stands to benefit SIDS and the ocean overall in future.

The Polar Regions (PR) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are distant and relatively undeveloped. They differ in cultures, socioeconomics, geographies, flora and fauna, and annual average temperatures. Despite their differences, they are similar in having small percentages of global population, limited economic and political influence, growing reliance on imported food and goods, and producing relatively small amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. The Arctic encompasses about four million people and 30 different Indigenous Peoples. There, warming has increased exposure to infectious, vector-borne, and mental illnesses; reduced food and water security; and displaced communities through scarcity, rising sea levels, and melting permafrost that damages infrastructure. Combined, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have over 60 million people. Their extensive and low lying coastal areas make them particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather. Changes in temperatures and precipitation patterns in Caribbean SIDs contributed to outbreaks of infectious diseases including cholera in Haiti, malaria in Jamaica, and H1N1 influenza virus in Barbados. Previously confined to SIDS of the Indian Ocean, Chikungunya (CHIKV) appeared across Caribbean SIDS in 2013, causing significant morbidity. We review health impacts of climate change in the PR and SIDS, contrast the environmental contexts in which these are occurring, and discuss regional and global causes and consequences.

Reviewing the nature and pitfalls of multilateral adaptation finance for small island developing states

Introduction Over the last few decades many island states have become internationally important places of tourism consumption (Carlsen and Butler 2011; Dowling and Pforr 2009) and as a consequence tourism has often developed into an important element of the local economy. Faced with inherent obstacles for economic prosperity, the industry has been hailed as a means to generate jobs and income and so has become a preferred development option for many island states. The growth in island tourism in recent years has also stimulated scholarly inquiry focusing in particular on issues of sustainability (e.g. Carlsen and Butler 2011; Dodds and Graci 2010) and the related impact of climate change on island destinations (e.g. Gossling 2009; Hall 2010; Huebner 2012). However, it appears that small or micro islands are often excluded from this debate although their small size, limited resource base and also a high dependency on foreign aid and a strong reliance on international tourism trade warrant further research. In this context, Henderson (2000, p. 250) for instance points out that ‘attention tends to be centred upon islands of a certain size which are capable of supporting an industry of some commercial significance. . . . Smaller islands are [often] neglected.’ With this chapter we aim to contribute to a better understanding of the role tourism plays in small island destinations by employing the micro island state of Niue in the South Pacific as a case example. There are certainly many unique characteristics which make Niue a very interesting study area. But in common with many other small island destinations, Niue is confronted with multiple socio-economic and environmental challenges. Barriers to its economic development include geographical disadvantages with poor accessibility and high transport costs, a limited human and non-human resource base, its small domestic market with a strong dependency on exports to and high import levels from New Zealand, a lack of infrastructure, a limited capacity to govern, and in the absence of local financial capital for development, a high degree of reliance on foreign aid and other support, again mainly from New Zealand. Considering the above, it comes as no surprise that tourism has become a preferred option for development on the island as a means to create employment and generate income and foreign exchange earnings. Indeed, since the 1980stourism development has been a priority for the Niue Government, which predicted at that time that tourism would have a significant impact on the island’s economy, forecasting 20,000 visitors to the island in the year 2000. However, a few years later this optimistic assessment had to be reviewed and projected tourist numbers halved. But actual tourist arrivals were only 2,011 in 2000, thereby falling well short of even these lowered expectations (Connell 2007; de Haas 2002). In the most recent drive to grow tourism, the government revisited the aspirational ‘20,000 visitors’ mark (by 2020) through an injection of NZ$15 million by the New Zealand Government over three years to support sustainable economic development on the island, population growth and also a reduction in Niue’s reliance on foreign aid (The Independent 2011). It remains to be seen how realistic this objective is to create a tourism sector which is economically viable, in particular in the light of Connell’s (2007, p. 10) observation that ‘for 30 years Niue has sought to develop a tourist industry but invariably without even short-term success’. In the case of such a small island, the question arises whether it would either be more appropriate to abandon the idea of tourism development altogether or accept that there will always be dependence on foreign aid with tourism at the most assuming the role of a supporting industry. Others, however, like de Haas (2002, p. 333), take the few that, despite these odds, Niue could develop into a sustainable tourism destination if it is able to attract ‘more visitors with more money, spread throughout the year’. In this chapter we will critically examine Niue’s chances for sustainable development and the contributions tourism may or may not be able to make toward that path. It is argued that Niue’s tourism industry may be regarded as socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable (on the basis of excluding the issue of access), but in economic terms it will never be sustainable. In doing so, we will explore sustainability issues beyond the specific destination context. Similar to many other island destinations, Niue is confronted with the consequences of climate change, sea level rise and extreme weather events as well as coral bleaching (Hall 2010). Thus, the question needs to be raised, for instance, as to ‘why this push for tourism growth is not more controversially discussed . . ., notably in a situation where small islands usually present themselves as victims of global warming’ (Gossling 2009, p. 59). However, before we discuss issues surrounding sustainable tourism on Niue in greater detail, we first provide the context to this study with an introduction of the case study area.

This paper explores why and how small island developing states (SIDS) in the Asia-Pacific region should adopt pro-poor policies to overcome development related affordable housing challenges. It first outlines SIDS’ common development challenges—small size, remoteness, greater exposure to economic and environmental shocks, and brisk urbanization. In a globalized world, SIDS’ developmental and geographic constraints make providing equitable shelter harder. Developing Asia’s rapid urban growth and simultaneously widening urban inequality offer hope and sound caution alike for SIDS, whose potential and propensity to attract global investment are unique. Tourism-based economic development is poised to accelerate the private sector’s influence on SIDS’ land and housing markets. This paper presents the cities of Honolulu (USA), Surabaya (Indonesia), and Dili (Timor Leste) as cases that exemplify, respectively, the advanced, intermediate, and early stages of a possible development continuum for SIDS. Utilizing secondary literature, primary qualitative field-research, news media sources, and observations, it demonstrates that despite common developmental challenges SIDS’ diverse governance models and institutional capacities preclude definitive solutions. Instead, it argues for tailored yet flexible policy responses informed by multiple pro-poor principles—inclusivity, affordability, alternative forms of tenure security, and innovative design and construction. Sensitive, context-appropriate adaptation of innovative policy tools that have proven effective in fraught contexts elsewhere (especially, transfer of development rights, inclusionary housing, land pooling/sharing, participatory slum upgrading, and community benefits agreements) can guide SIDS to expand pro-poor shelter provision.

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death in young women in developing countries which includes those in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Some of the highest rates of cervical cancer deaths in the world occur in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, South China Seas(AIMS) and Pacific SIDS. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the range of cervical cancer treatments available in 36 of 38 SIDS who are members of the United Nations. Methods: Databases searched independently by two authors were: MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus. Manuscripts published between 2000-2017 were identified using a search strategy that included cervical cancer, all forms of treatment and the name of each of the selected 36 SIDS in the Caribbean, Pacific and AIMS countries. Only articles in the English language were included. Duplicates, non-relevant and those not meeting the inclusion criteria were excluded. Two authors selected and read the included articles independently and rated the methodological quality of each article. Results: From a total of 175 abstracts, 158 were excluded as duplicates and not relevant. Seventeen papers were read in full, nine were excluded as not meeting the inclusion criteria and eight manuscripts were included in the review. A narrative synthesis was considered appropriate given the heterogenous nature of the manuscripts. Seven of the eight papers were from the Caribbean SIDS underpinning evidence that treatments for cervical cancer were more developed in that region compared to the Pacific and AIMS SIDS. Surgery was available in most SIDS followed by chemotherapy with only seven (19%) SIDS, all in the Caribbean, with radiation centres. Conclusion: There is a dearth of published evidence on the details of treatments available to women with cervical cancer in 36 SIDS. With cervical cancer increasing in those parts of the world due to weak cancer prevention and control strategies, a large number of women with cervical cancer are not being treated especially in the Pacific and AIMS SIDS. More needs to be done to address treatments in the Pacific and AIMS SIDS and to increase publication of those efforts.

The article begins the process of outlining the way in which maritime security challenges are publicly articulated by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in order to better understand the backdrop against which security policy and practice emerge. To do this the article discusses the results of an initial, exploratory content analysis of UN SIDS conference documents framed by the central research question, ‘In the SIDS’ public conceptualisation of sustainable development, how are maritime security threats articulated?’ The article argues that for SIDS their conceptualisation of maritime security is inextricably wrapped up in concerns about sustainable development, with concern about challenges such as illegal fishing being pinpointed as threats to food security. The article calls for more research on the extent to which SIDS’ conceptualisation of maritime security differs regionally; highlights a vulnerability straitjacket SIDS may find themselves wearing; and suggests that SIDS consider the development of holistic sustainable blue growth strategies to bring multiple stakeholders together to enhance human wellbeing. To conclude, the article argues that ultimately efforts to pursue enhanced maritime security by SIDS will be determined by how they chart a path between emphasising their own vulnerability and the opportunities associated with their maritime domain.

Climate Change and Health: Strengthening the Evidence Base for Policy

<p>This study sought to a) discover the specific factors that influence Information and Communications Technology (ICT) use in higher education teaching and learning in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as the Maldives; b) determine how ICT can be used within higher education in SIDS; c) develop a framework / model for ICT adoption in higher education in teaching and learning of SIDS; and d) use UNESCO’s continuum model of ICT development and the TOEG framework to ground these factors to produce a practical roadmap. The Maldives was chosen as a representative case for SIDS in this research. The Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands with 198 inhabited islands. Due to its small population densities spread over remote islands, distribution of higher education access has been a major impediment in the Maldives, calling for the use of ICT. This research utilised an interpretive paradigm with qualitative research methods (interviews; focus group discussions; qualitative survey and document reviewing). The case research methodology provided a variety of perspectives; enabled multiple data collection techniques; and examined technology integration within a technology rich environment. The research participants were students, teachers, senior academic managers, education and information technology consultants / experts in the Maldives. The findings revealed the specific factors that affect the ICT adoption within higher education teaching and learning in the context of the Maldives. An Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) of ICT use in higher education in SIDS was developed using TAM theory, Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and a TOEG (Technology-Organisational-Environment-Geography) framework. The technology context examined government support for Information Technology, ICT support for teachers, ICT Infrastructure, underutilisation of ICT resources, perception of benefits from the present ICT infrastructure and ICT policies. The organisational context included finance, centralisation, human resources, top management support, ICT confidence among teachers, and research. The environmental context contained social issues (drugs and overcrowding) and cultural issues (gender disparity, cultural homogeneity among students and teachers and no culture of using ICT in academic learning, and a spoon-feeding pedagogical tradition). Finally the geography context identified issues associated with geography, transportation and the digital divide between remote islands. These factors impede the adoption of ICT in the higher education sector in SIDS such as the Maldives. A practical roadmap was formulated by utilising the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) continuum model of ICT development and the TOEG framework to recommend four broad stages in terms of adoption and use of ICT in higher education. This study contributes to existing knowledge by providing a clear understanding of the present role of ICT as well as information on how ICT can be used in higher education in SIDS such as the Maldives. This research is important to gain a wider understanding of the future directions for adoption of ICT within higher education in SIDS. The research will fill critical gaps in the current research, expand the coverage of relatively neglected research areas in SIDS, contribute to practitioners and the academic community, and stimulate further debate.</p>