Small Island Developing States (SIDS)by | 11-01-2015 22:52 |
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 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are low-lying coastal countries that face social, economic and environmental susceptibilities. Fifty two countries and territories are presently classified as SIDS by the United Nations OHRLLS. 38 are UN members and 14 are non-UN Members or Associate Members of the Regional Commissions. They are primarily located across the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and Caribbean Sea. Their development is also stunted by high transport and communication costs and expensive infrastructure due to their small size. These factors hinder the development of SIDS by serving as a barrier for economic growth. The environmental impact of human activity is increasing rapidly. Greenhouse Gas emissions has significantly increased, leading to the Climate Change. This in turn has resulted in increasing temperatures, altering rainfall patterns, rising sea-levels and increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters causing socio-economic and environmental issues. The Small Island Developing States rather provide a minimal contribution to greenhouse emissions but in fact they are the most vulnerable to its effects. The size of these SIDS make them particularly vulnerable to global climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise Many major sectors such as tourism and agriculture are under serious threat, threating the existence of many SIDS. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century. Global climate change has been damaging the island ecosystems and has led to increased frequency and intensity of storm events.
Extreme water conditions, i.e., floods and droughts will directly affect population health. This will indirectly Impact the eventuality of infectious, food and waterborne diseases. To manage the potential health impacts of extreme weather, health education programs and improvement of health care infrastructure have been introduced. Poor water quality and limited availability is also common in SIDS. Sea-level rise and flooding leads to saltwater intrusion and salination of freshwater systems. Inadequate reservoirs cause further issues for water security. Mitigation through strategies like rainwater harvesting can partially ensure a sustainable supply of water.
The SIDS were recognized as a distinct group of developing countries in June 1992, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development. The Barbados Programme of Action was produced in 1994 to assist the SIDS in their sustainable development efforts. The 29th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2005 adopted the World Heritage Programme for SIDS. This has helped SIDS to gain world recognition and increased protection. To attain sustainable development, it is critical that we educate our most potential resources OUR YOUTH. More than half of the population in majority if the SIDS are under the age of 25 according to a recent study. We must prepare them for various issues like food and water scarcity as the demand for natural resources increase. We need to work together to unleash the potential of the youth to create the future we want. The youth should be involved more in the planning of policies and programmes as they are the future leaders of the world. It is the youth who have the power to move the masses. If they are educated and prepared they can mobilize the masses. We must encourage and support youth-led environmental activities. The need for capacity building, quality education and employment opportunities are some of the issues presently faced by the youth in SIDS and we must work towards eradicating these problems. Due the limited availability resources, Small Island Developing States require assistance for action. High contributors towards Global Warming must take responsibility to work towards sustainable practices. Financial support must be provided by developed countries to assist SIDS in their mitigation. It will be only then that Small Island Developing States can attain self-sufficiency during Global Ecological Crises. Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Island_Developing_States#mediaviewer/File:SIDS_map_en.svg |
