We are already witnessing the disruptive impact of climate change on our daily lives, environment, and economies, in every country in every continent. Islands by nature being isolated, having relatively large coastal zones and marked by smaller low-lying landmasses are one of the most vulnerable to impacts of extreme and frequent weather events triggered by climate change. These have been disrupting islanders ways of life, creating large devastations, creating water shortages, impacting their livelihoods and threatening their very existence.
Countries recognizing the global threat of climate change adopted the Paris Agreement in 2015 to strengthen the global response to this threat. The same year the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were adopted which also recognized “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” as a key goal as climate change itself pose a threat on our ability achieving many other SDGs.
Introduction to session: While historically the islanders have developed resilience and adapted the impacts of climate change at various degrees, it is important to understand if the islands are set to address the current and predicted extreme climate change impacts and achieving their sustainable development goals. The Panel brings together a unique set of experts from the islands to understand the policies and actions for low emission sustainable development in smart climate resilient islands.