in a Blue World

Environmental vulnerability

Cuba Belize

Bahamas Dominican Republic Virgin Iss

Haiti Netherlands Antilles

Jamaica Aruba

1 Saint Lucia

Saint Kitts and Nevis 2

Dominica Grenada

Barbados Trinidad and Tobago Guyana Suriname

Sao Tome and Principe

Kiribati Cook Islands Niue

Source: Environmental Vulnerability Index. 2009; ISOCARP Congress, 2009; UNFCCC, Climate change, small island developing States, 2005.

Economic Impact of Hurricanes Million US dollars, 2004

2 000

Cayman Islands

1 500 1 000 500 0 Grenada Jamaica Bahamas

Dominican Republic

0 100 Kilometres

Vulnerability High

SIDS At risk

Bahrain

Cape Verde

Guinea-Bissau Maldives Seychelles Comoros Extreme Vulnerable Resilient Maldives today... Note:

1.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2. Antigua and Barbuda

...and with 1 metre seal level rise

Trend of cyclone frequency in Vanuatu Number of events per decade

10 15 20 25 30

5 0 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

Nutrient pollution is a growing impact on marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, which are of vital importance for tourism and fisheries.

SIDS should to set policies that stimulate the sustainable management of fertilizers in order to obtain favourable agricultural yields while at the same time not over-enriching the natural environment with Nitrogen and Phosphorus that lead to eutrophication of the waterways and ultimately marine and coastal ecosystems. Innovative approaches to the management and use of fertilizers will create opportunities for private engagement while helping to secure SIDS’ essential natural assets. Further positive effects include the quality of freshwater and cost-reductions in agriculture.

With only a few exceptions, SIDS depend on imported petroleum to supply their energy needs. As of 2008, island states spent over $90 million daily for more than 900,000 barrels of oil at an average price of US$100 per barrel. More

than 90% of that energy is obtained from oil imports, accounting for the largest claim on their foreign exchange earnings. The high cost of imported energy causes a severe drain on limited financial resources, while fluctuating oil prices have serious repercussions on their national economies. SIDS should pursue a collective approach under the UNFCCC and Rio+20 processes to secure financial resources to provide public support and infrastructure for the private sector to engage in the development of renewable energy production. Establishing

technological expertise sharing

mechanism would increase efficient utilization of unique expertise. Such a mechanism could be implemented through UN agencies focused on science or industrial development or through the relevant regional institutions. SIDS should take a collective approach to sustainable energy development particularly with regards to aggregate purchasing, approaches to technology developers, to seeking investment financing, and in research, development, and demonstration.

21 Mauritius

Solomon Iss. Vanuatu

Samoa Fiji Tonga New Caledonia Singapore Papua New Guinea Micronesia Palau

Marshall Iss Nauru

Tuvalu Tokelau