State of Small Islands Small islands, on the frontlines of climate change and ecological degradation, need stronger global support, climate finance, and local resilience strategies to safeguard their future. Oceans Coasts Small Islands

	Hari Srinivas
	Concept Note Series C-087

1  Key Characteristics and Importance of Small Islands

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• High Endemism: Islands host 20% of global biodiversity despite covering 5% of land area (e.g., Madagascar's lemurs, Gal?pagos tortoises).
• Critical Habitats: Coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds support fisheries and tourism.

Small islands are home to extraordinary biodiversity, hosting around 20% of global species while covering just 5% of the Earth's land area. Many species found on these islands, such as Madagascar's lemurs and the Gal?pagos tortoises, are endemic and do not exist anywhere else. These ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, play a crucial role in supporting local fisheries and tourism industries.

Economic and Cultural Value

• Tourism Dependency: Accounts for 30-80% of GDP in places like the Maldives and Seychelles.
• Fisheries and Food Security: Coastal fisheries provide 50-90% of dietary protein in Pacific SIDS.
• Cultural Heritage: Indigenous knowledge and traditions are tied to land and marine ecosystems.

Economically, many islands are heavily dependent on tourism, which contributes between 30% and 80% of GDP in places like the Maldives and Seychelles. Fisheries also provide a critical source of food security, with coastal fish stocks supplying between 50% and 90% of dietary protein in Pacific island nations. Beyond economics, these islands hold immense cultural value. Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and ways of life are deeply tied to both the land and marine ecosystems, shaping their societies for generations.

Climate and Ocean Regulation

• Carbon Sinks: Pacific island forests and coastal ecosystems sequester significant carbon.
• Ocean Stewardship: Many SIDS champion marine conservation (e.g., Palaufs 80% marine sanctuary).

Small islands also play an important role in climate and ocean regulation. Many Pacific islands have dense forests and coastal ecosystems that serve as natural carbon sinks, helping to sequester atmospheric carbon. Additionally, island nations have become leaders in ocean stewardship, with many, such as Palau, establishing extensive marine sanctuaries to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable fisheries.

2  Major Threats to Small Islands

Climate Change Impacts

• Sea Level Rise (SLR):
  • Projected 0.5-1.2m rise by 2100 threatens to submerge nations (e.g., Kiribati, Tuvalu).
  • Saltwater intrusion contaminates freshwater lenses, affecting 90% of Pacific island water supplies.
• Extreme Weather:
  • Hurricanes and cyclones cause annual losses of 1-10% of GDP (e.g., Dominica's 2017 Hurricane Maria cost 226% of GDP).
  • Coral bleaching (e.g., 70% loss in the Caribbean since 1970) reduces coastal protection and fisheries.

Climate change poses a severe and growing risk to small islands, with sea level rise threatening to submerge entire nations such as Kiribati and Tuvalu by the end of the century. Projections indicate that sea levels could rise between 0.5 and 1.2 meters by 2100, leading to saltwater intrusion that contaminates freshwater supplies.

Currently, nearly 90% of Pacific islanders rely on freshwater lenses, which are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-related salinization. Extreme weather events, including hurricanes and cyclones, result in catastrophic economic losses, sometimes exceeding the entire GDP of affected nations. In 2017, Hurricane Maria cost Dominica 226% of its GDP, demonstrating the devastating impact of natural disasters on small island economies.

Additionally, rising ocean temperatures have led to coral bleaching, with the Caribbean losing approximately 70% of its coral cover since 1970. This decline in coral reefs not only reduces coastal protection but also threatens fisheries and tourism industries.

Ecosystem Degradation

• Coastal Erosion: 50% of Caribbean beaches could vanish by 2100 due to SLR and sand mining.
• Deforestation: Land clearing for agriculture (e.g., Haiti has <1% primary forest left).
• Invasive Species: Rats, cats, and invasive plants drive native species extinct (e.g., 80% of island extinctions linked to invasives).

Ecosystem degradation is another pressing issue, with many islands experiencing coastal erosion due to sea level rise and unsustainable sand mining. In the Caribbean, it is estimated that half of the region's beaches could disappear by the end of the century. Deforestation driven by agriculture and development has further exacerbated environmental challenges, as seen in Haiti, where less than 1% of primary forest remains intact.

The introduction of invasive species has also led to significant biodiversity losses, with non-native animals such as rats and cats responsible for the extinction of numerous island species.

Pollution and Waste

• Plastic Pollution: Pacific islands receive 10x more plastic waste per capita than global average.
• Sewage and Runoff: Limited waste infrastructure harms reefs and human health (e.g., 90% of Pacific islanders lack proper sanitation).

Pollution and waste management remain critical concerns, with small islands receiving disproportionately high amounts of plastic waste per capita compared to the global average. Inadequate waste infrastructure has resulted in severe environmental and health issues, as untreated sewage and agricultural runoff degrade marine ecosystems. Currently, about 90% of Pacific islanders lack proper sanitation, leading to further contamination of coastal waters.

Economic and Social Pressures

• Debt and Dependency: Many SIDS rely on imports, leaving them vulnerable to global shocks.
• Migration and Displacement: 1 in 10 people in Tuvalu and Nauru have already migrated due to climate impacts.

Economic pressures also compound these challenges, with many island nations burdened by high levels of debt and dependency on imports, making them highly vulnerable to global economic shocks. Additionally, climate change-induced migration is accelerating, with one in ten people in Tuvalu and Nauru having already left their home islands in search of safer living conditions.

3  Solutions and Pathways to Resilience

Climate Adaptation

• Nature-Based Defenses:
• Mangrove restoration (e.g., Fiji's 30 km? project) reduces wave energy by 66%.
• Artificial coral reefs (e.g., Maldives' "coral factories") rebuild fish habitats.
• Infrastructure Resilience:
• Elevated buildings (e.g., Vanuatu's cyclone-proof schools).
• Floating solar panels (e.g., Seychelles' hybrid energy systems).

Despite these challenges, small islands have developed innovative and adaptive strategies to enhance their resilience. Nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration, have proven effective in reducing wave energy and protecting coastal communities. In Fiji, efforts to restore 30 square kilometers of mangroves have significantly reduced coastal vulnerability. Artificial coral reefs, pioneered in the Maldives, have also played a role in regenerating marine ecosystems and supporting local fisheries. Infrastructure resilience has been another key focus, with elevated cyclone-proof buildings being developed in Vanuatu and floating solar panel projects emerging in Seychelles to enhance energy security.

Policy and International Support

• Loss and Damage Fund: SIDS advocate for climate reparations (e.g., COP27's historic agreement).
• Marine Protection:
• 100% sustainable ocean management pledges (e.g., Barbados' Blue Green Bank).
• High Seas Treaty to protect migratory fish stocks.

At the policy level, island nations have been at the forefront of advocating for climate justice and financial support. The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 marked a significant step toward securing financial assistance for SIDS to address climate-induced losses. Many island nations are also leading efforts in marine conservation, with initiatives such as Barbados' Blue Green Bank, which supports 100% sustainable ocean management. The recent High Seas Treaty represents another critical milestone in protecting migratory fish stocks and ensuring the sustainable use of ocean resources.

Sustainable Economies

• Blue Economy Initiatives:
• Offshore wind in Mauritius; seaweed farming in Kiribati.
• Eco-certified tourism (e.g., Palau's "Pristine Paradise" visa).
• Debt-for-Nature Swaps:
• Seychelles protected 30% of its EEZ in exchange for debt relief.

Sustainable economic strategies have also been central to resilience-building efforts. Many islands are investing in blue economy initiatives, such as offshore wind energy in Mauritius and seaweed farming in Kiribati, to diversify their economies and reduce dependence on tourism. Some have also explored debt-for-nature swaps as a means of conservation financing. Seychelles, for example, successfully protected 30% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in exchange for debt relief.

Community-Led Action

• Traditional Knowledge:
• Vanuatu's "nakamals" (community shelters) built from storm-resistant materials.
• Hawai'i's ahupua'a system for watershed management.
• Youth and Innovation:
• Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator funds island-led startups.

Local communities play an essential role in resilience efforts, with traditional knowledge often serving as a valuable tool for climate adaptation. In Vanuatu, indigenous "nakamals" have been constructed using storm-resistant materials, ensuring that local infrastructure can withstand extreme weather. Similarly, in Hawai'i, the ancient ahupua'a system of watershed management has been revived to promote sustainable land and water use. Youth-led innovation is also driving progress, with the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator providing funding and mentorship for island-based startups that focus on sustainability and climate resilience.

4  Small Islands: Survival Through Solidarity

• Scaling up climate finance (e.g., meeting the $100 billion/year pledge).
• Strengthening nature-based and technological defenses.
• Amplifying SIDS' leadership in global forums (e.g., AOSIS advocacy).

Small islands are often described as "canaries in the coal mine," as their vulnerabilities highlight broader global environmental challenges. Without urgent action, many of these islands face irreversible losses. Their survival depends on scaling up climate finance, including fulfilling the $100 billion per year climate funding pledge, strengthening both nature-based and technological defenses, and amplifying the voices of SIDS in global forums such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). By fostering global solidarity and implementing resilient solutions, small islands can continue to safeguard their unique ecosystems and cultures while adapting to an increasingly uncertain future.

Key References:

• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2023)
• UN SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway
• World Bank's Small Island States Resilience Initiative
• IUCN's State of the World's Biodiversity in SIDS

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