The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, Pacific, Africa and Indian Ocean are among the world’s most vulnerable countries to natural disasters, and climate change is expected to greatly increase their exposure to hurricanes, storm surges, extreme winds, and flooding. A report launched by the World Bank says the …
Coastal communities and marine ecosystems can benefit from climate-smart agriculture practices, according to the findings of a new report from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Marine Advantage – Empowering coastal communities, safeguarding marine ecosystems, a study of IFAD’s experience in improving the lives of coastal communities, shows …
The Global Climate Risk Index 2018 analyses to what extent countries have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heat waves etc.). The most recent data available – for 2016 and from 1997 to 2016 – were taken into account. The countries affected most in 2016 …
This working paper presents a dynamic small open economy model to explore the macroeconomic impact of natural disasters. In addition to permanent damages to public and private capital, the disaster causes temporary losses of productivity, inefficiencies during the reconstruction process, and damages to the sovereign's creditworthiness. This paper uses the …
The Caribbean region’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face considerable threats from climate change, and considerable costs to cope with and adapt to climate impacts that exceed their financial capacity. This paper analyses climate finance flows to Caribbean SIDS, using data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) …
This policy brief, prepared by SIWI and Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA), is a contribution to the discussions and activities at UNFCCC meetings in order to improve understanding and application of gender and water knowledge in the climate arena. The interface between freshwater and oceans captures the vital development …
For island nations like Kirabati in the Pacific Ocean, climate change poses an existential threat – and reducing that risk was the topic of a meeting in Mexico on Monday, ahead of the biennial 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held this week. Dozens of representatives of the world’s …
Islands around the world face crucial energy challenges, including fuel import dependency, high electricity costs, environmental sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) co-operates closely with island countries to accelerate their shift to renewables and help ensure a sustainable energy future. National Energy Roadmaps for …
This paper presents an analysis of climate finance flows to Pacific Island states in 2010–2014, collectively and by country, as well as more recent data on flows from multilateral climate funds. The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Pacific face serious threats from climate change and will need significant …
Storms, hurricanes, and cyclones have been a feature of life on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for centuries. But climate change is now increasing the intensity of these disasters, as well as creating new developmental challenges - like rising sea levels and increasing ocean acidity - which not only challenge …
A Path to Prosperity highlights the role of islands in global efforts against climate change. The third edition of this compilation from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) marks the occasion of the United Nations climate conference, COP22, in November 2016. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are rich in renewable …
This report is a synthesis of the research and re-evaluates the options previously considered in this project (Vieweg et al (2014)) in the light of the negotiation process up to today. The mitigation-related design elements considered are: Participation and differentiation of countries; Types of commitments, including also the compulsory character …
The world's forests continue to shrink as populations increase and forest land is converted to agriculture and other uses, but over the past 25 years the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 percent, FAO said in a report published today. Some 129 million hectares …
A Path to Prosperity: Renewable Energy for Islands presents a compilation of case studies from small island developing states (SIDS) and development partners. These demonstrate real-life project viability, highlight innovative solutions and showcase successful partnerships, which together are advancing the deployment of renewable energy in SIDS. This second edition – …
This document provides a contextual understanding of the challenges and opportunities of climate change in relation to human settlements in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It is a collection of initial thoughts in response to the call of Small Island Developing States for “the strengthening of the long-standing cooperation and …
Energy is key to prosperity, and the discovery and use of fossil fuels in the past few centuries has generated tremendous wealth. Yet, this energy paradigm has now become a liability that threatens the very sustainability of all it enabled. This report analyses the impacts of fossil fuel energy in …
A new manual that will enable policymakers to calculate the true value of ecosystems for a transition to a green economy across the world's 52 small island developing states (SIDS), was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at a ceremony celebrating the end of the International Year of …
The purpose of this document is to provide a contextual understanding of the challenges and opportunities of climate change in relation to human settlements in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It is also a modest attempt at collecting initial thoughts in response to the call of Small Island Developing States …
Reflecting stumbling growth in the world economy, world seaborne shipments grew by an average of just 3.8 per cent in 2013, taking total volumes to nearly 9.6 billion tons, UNCTAD's Review of Maritime Transport 2014 reports. Much of the expansion in seaborne trade was driven by growth in dry cargo …
A new study has revealed more evidence that the sea level rise the world has already experienced in recent years is not characteristic of the natural fluctuations the planet has seen over the past millennia, indicating that it is at least in-part a consequence of unnatural human influence. The study, …
