As the 2024 sunset for the SAMOA Pathway approaches, SIDS are already identifying the action areas for their new development pathway that will be adopted at the fourth International Conference on SIDS in 2024. At the same time, SIDS are leading the world in climate action and ocean management. As SIDS have been experimenting with a digital reimagining of their blue economies as an avenue for a bluer and greener transition, they have helped to center the oceans at the forefront of many recent global dialogues.
As part of the 2022 HLPF, the 2022 Global Multi-Stakeholder SIDS Partnerships Dialogue on 11 July at the UN Headquarters in New York built on the momentum from the 7th Ocean Conference in Palau and the 2nd UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon. Based on analysis of the implementation of SDG 14, SIDS discussed recommendations on private-public partnerships in the ocean sector, COVID-19 recovery, ocean energy, and sustainable tourism, and access to innovative finance and debt relief instruments.
In this context, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in its capacity as Chair of AOSIS will convene the “Wadadli Action Platform” in Antigua from 8 to 9 August 2022. “Wadadli”, means “our own”, and signifies the leadership of SIDS in pioneering sustainable solutions including through local and traditional knowledge. This Action Platform aims at examining both vulnerabilities and opportunities for development, establishing new or enhanced partnerships, and examining the challenges and proposed solutions for SIDS, especially in securing finance. These elements are key to building social, economic and environmental resilience in SIDS.
In this bulletin, we focus on SIDS’ leadership in finding innovative solutions to combat sea-level rise, achieve sustainable tourism and ocean trade, develop integrated policy for agriculture and climate action, and promote gender equality to enhance clean energy development.
Country Corner
Image: Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture
How SIDS are developing innovative solutions to food security threats
SIDS are in the midst of a 'Triple C' of crises - Climate Change, COVID-19, and Conflict. These shocks have caused disruption to the global trade and value chains which have triggered an increase in food prices worldwide. With the persistence of such shocks, the trade-dependent islands are at higher food security risks. Mauritius, for example, produces less than 25 percent of its food products, which makes the island in critical need of finding solutions to address food security and manage the rising number of food-insecure households among its population. Also, the Ukraine-Russian war is having severe implications on Mauritius' agricultural sector, as the island purchases 61 percent of its fertilizers from Russia. Due to the disruption of supply and demand on global fertilizer markets, Mauritius is facing a significant increase in the price of fertilizers, which is foreseen to affect future harvests.
In the current context, local innovative solutions are being further explored by SIDS to recover better and increase resilience. Seaweed farming and the use of organic waste as compost could be smart alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and possible solutions that could be adopted to face food insecurity and low fertilizer stock in Mauritius. Through partnership and SIDS-SIDS cooperation, these solutions can have greater reach through refinement across various island contexts and through the innovations of the UNDP Accelerator Labs.
Image: Maldives Floating City
SIDS have shown great leadership in their fight against climate change, yet they are still threatened by its continued devastating impacts and consequences. The Maldives is one of the world’s most exposed countries to the threat of climate change and specially the rising sea levels, with 80 percent of the island country at just one meter above sea level.
The Maldives has come up with an innovative sustainable solution to adapt to climate change and the rising sea levels by developing plans to build the first floating city using floating technology in the world, modeled on the human brain-like shape of a coral reef. The floating city will be formed of 5,000 housing units that will be connected and tethered to the floor of a 500-acre lagoon. The floating city’s design has been inspired by a nature-based structure of water canals and roads, reflecting the magnificent way in which real brain coral is organized. Such innovative solutions of a floating city have inspired other countries like South Korea, showing how the climate emergency is transforming SIDS into innovation leaders for the global benefit.
Image: Westend61/Getty Images
Mauritius is reimagining the future of tourism, and at the lead of innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Mauritius is leading Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Innovation Index, and moved up from the 82nd to 52nd position globally from 2019 to 2020. Access to electricity in Mauritius was reported at 100% of the population in 2019 according to World Bank, with an internet access of 64.9 percent of the population.
To digitally transform the tourism industry and bring inclusive economic growth, Mauritius is working to create an interconnected policy environment within the sectors of technology, environment, and culture. Efforts are underway to minimize unsustainable coastal development and promote eco-accommodations and sustainable co-living spaces. It is also essential to simultaneously reimagine health infrastructure to support digital nomads and silver tourists, as well as invite in accessible and inclusive mobility with eco-friendly modes of transportation.
The tourism sector has been a central economic pillar for many SIDS over the past 10 years, providing them a lifeline for growth and connection to the global economy. However, the COVID-19 pandemic proved the fragility of this singular focus of SIDS economies and highlighted the essential step to reimagine the tourism sector in our digital age. Digital upskilling and reskilling of workers will be necessary for the full integration of MSMEs into the value chain of the local tourist industry. For SIDS who are accelerating their digital transformations like Mauritius, this offers great opportunity for economic diversification.
Please find the rest here - SIDS Bulletin 61
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