UN report warns small island developing states increasingly vulnerable

UN report warns small island developing states increasingly vulnerable

2 December – Small island developing states (SIDS), which rely heavily on 
agriculture, forestry and fisheries exports, are increasingly threatened by a 
combination of fluctuating commodity prices and trade regulations and the 
potentially disastrous results of climate change, according to a new United 
Nations report released today.

"The situation of Small Island Developing States continues to be one of 
exposure and growing vulnerability due to new challenges and emerging 
economic, social and ecological issues," the UN Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) says in the report.

"In a rapidly changing world, new challenges are emerging which need a 
harmonized approach to help SIDS adapt to the trade environment and seek 
opportunities to diversify their agricultural systems," FAO adds.

Many SIDS are increasingly dependent on food imports and the rates of 
nutrition-related health problems are on the rise. Climate change, including 
a rising sea level and vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes 
are of particular concern, according to the report.

In addition, it is estimated that as a result of global warming sea levels 
will increase by half a meter by 2100, thus severely threatening islands and 
low-lying coastal states. Global warming is also likely to lead to an 
increase in maximum tropical cyclone wind speeds and lower central pressures, 
leading to more damaging storm surges, the report says.

The report coincides with a side event on SIDS hosted by FAO today in Rome to 
provide Agriculture Ministers and other high-level officials from Member 
States with the latest developments regarding the implementation of the 
Barbados Plan of Action on Sustainable Development of SIDS, adopted in 1994 
at a global UN conference.

A UN conference in Mauritius to be held between 30 August and 3 September 
2004 will review the implementation of the Barbados Plan of Action and 
reflect on a long-term vision.

SIDS have been facing a series of problems such as narrow resource base, 
vulnerability to natural hazards, high external debt, difficulties in 
conforming to sanitary and phyto-sanitary regulations, over-exploitation of 
forest and marine resources, high population growth and mobility, relative 
poverty, limited variety of dietary intakes, scarcity of skilled manpower and 
weak institutional capacities.



SOURCE: United Nations, New York