ICDRI 2021: Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - Pacific Island Countries
The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most disaster-prone regions due to climate change and extreme weather events. They are particularly affected by sea level rise, coastal flooding and erosion, and extreme events such as tsunamis and storm surges. These regions also face development challenges that constrain their economic prospects such as remoteness to global markets, poor connectivity, lack of economies of scale, inadequate labor-mobility, low levels of development combined with rapid population growth and limited capacity to adapt.
As per the World Risk Index 2019, 12 out of the top 20 countries with the highest risk are from SIDS. Further, eight out the ten countries with the highest multi-disaster risk relative to the size of their economic shock are Caribbean SIDS. It will not be wrong to say that if the threats from disaster and climate risks are not addressed, these islands could potentially disappear.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - Pacific Island Countries session highlighted and discussed the critical challenges and significant opportunities for adopting resilient pathways for infrastructure development in SIDS. It discussed the infrastructure priorities of the SIDS and the delivery mechanisms that can help integrate disaster and climate resilience for infrastructure development.