Key Takeaways
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and challenges faced by Island States due to climate change become subjects in bilateral talks between the Indian Prime Minister and President of Madagascar.
About Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure CDRI
- CDRI is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and others that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.
- CDRI promotes rapid development of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals’ imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and decent work
- Members: 22 countries and 7 organisations.
- The CDRI Secretariat is based in New Delhi, India
About Small Island Developing Nations
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct group of 38 UN Member States and 20 Non-UN Members/Associate Members of United Nations regional commissions that face unique social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities.
- The three geographical regions in which SIDS are located are: the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS).
- The SIDS were recognized as a distinct group of developing countries in June 1992, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development.
Impact of Climate Change on Small Island Developing Nations – Climate change has a very tangible impact on SIDS.
Environmental Impact of Climate Change
- Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate turned the 2017 tropical cyclone season into one of the deadliest and most devastating of all time. For example Ivan one of the most powerful hurricanes tore through the southern and western Caribbean.
- Slow onset events such as sea level rise pose an existential threat to small island communities, requiring drastic measures such as relocation of populations, and the related challenges this poses. For example , Kiribati in the central Pacific.
Governance
- These challenges are compounded by limited institutional capacity, scarce financial resources and a high degree of vulnerability to systemic shocks.For example Haiti
Economic Impact
- Agricultural production, fisheries, and related sectors are declining as the climate changes, threatening livelihoods and economic growth.
- Tourism forms the foundation of many SIDS economies, and climate change is impacting it.
Impact on Humans
- Climate change generates a new form of human migrants called climate migrants that mainly due to submergence is land and distress of the economy. For example , Tuvalu.
- It also led to spreading of water borne diseases among people in that region.
Pic Courtesy: Republic World
Content Source: PIB