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Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary

Small Island States



 

About the Cyberlibrary

The Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary was developed by Mick Kelly and Sarah Granich on behalf of the Stockholm Environment Institute and the International Institute for Environment and Development, with sponsorship from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

While every effort is made to ensure that information on this site, and on other sites that are referenced here, is accurate, no liability for loss or damage resulting from use of this information can be accepted.

SIDSne
SIDSne

Small Island States and climate change — selected resources in the Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary and on the web
 


In the Cyberlibrary

Community Adaptation in a Small Island Developing Country
Leone Limalevu, Bill Aalbersberg, Patrina Dumaru and Tony Weir suggest some general lessons for community-based adaptation projects in a small developing country. Published July 2010

Energy in the Pacific
Tom Roper considers action that energy utilities can take in vulnerable Pacific island countries. Published September 2008

Enhancing Meteorological Services in the Pacific
Effective progress is being made in developing the self-sufficiency of meteorological services in Pacific Islands through assistance from New Zealand and other international development partners. Penehuro Lefale from the Meteorological Service of New Zealand reports. Published July 2007

The Cook Islands - an Ocean and Coastal Environment
Vaitoti Tupa discusses the environmental challenges facing the Cook Islands, commenting on climate change and sea-level rise, resource sustainability and capacity building. Published May 2007

Strengthening Food Security in the Solomon Islands
Louise Hunt reports on the successful efforts of a community group on the Solomon Islands' weather coast to teach livelihood skills and community capacity strengthening to its people. Published August 2006

Jamaica's Energy Potential
The Most Honourable Percival James (P J) Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, outlines the potential for a sustainable energy future for his country through energy conservation and the development of renewable resources. Published June 2006

The Other Side of Paradise
The documentary The Other Side of Paradise describes the climate threat facing Small Island Developing States. Published August 2005

The Mauritius Declaration on Small Island Developing States
Kanayathu Koshy and Sarah Granich discuss an international review of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island States. Published July 2005

Small Island Developing States: A Special Case
Small Island Developing States have gained formal international recognition that the adverse effects of climate change are seriously affecting their continued existence and, for some, their very survival. Newswatch Editor Sarah Granich reports. Published January 2005

CHARM
The documentary Regional CHARM Guidelines for Pacific Island Countries, presented as streaming video, describes the Comprehensive Hazard And Risk Management process for the Pacific islands. Published January 2005

Interview with Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury
In a Newswatch interview, Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury discusses the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Published January 2005

Mauritius and Beyond
Kanayathu Koshy discusses Pacific preparations for the 10-Year Review of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Published January 2005

Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative
Tom Roper describes the Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative, intended to assist Small Island Developing States develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Published December 2004

Islands and Climate Change
The documentary Islands and Climate Change, presented as streaming video, describes the threat posed to the Pacific island nations by climate change and unsustainable development. Published December 2004

Small Islands - Big Potential
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury discusses the current status of Small Island Developing States in the context of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Published October 2004

Adaptation - a Caribbean View
Neville Trotz argues that adaptation is not a novel science; many solutions have existed for some time. Only the resources and the commitment to implement them are missing. Published August 2004

Island Climate Update
Ashmita Gosai, Penehuro Lefale and Jim Salinger describe the content and application of the Island Climate Update, a highly successful seasonal climate bulletin. Published July 2004

The World's Fragile Islands
Agnès Sinaï argues that, from the low-lying point of view of Pacific islanders or circumpolar-dwelling Inuit, the Kyoto Protocol seems an exploitative deal. Published July 2004

Erosion of Low-lying Reef Islands
Paul Kench and Peter Cowell present methodological developments in assessing the effect of sea-level rise on the erosion of low-lying reef islands. Published June 2004

A Sword of Damocles?
John Hay uses a classical legend to underline his argument that global warming is posing a very real threat to Pacific Island nations. Published September 2002

Capacity Enhancement for the Pacific
Kanayathu Koshy and Liza Philip discuss the support needed for Pacific Island Countries to respond effectively to climate change. Published September 2002

An Atoll State in Peril
John Connell discusses the problem of environmental change, economic development and emigration in Tuvalu. Published December 2001

Environmental Change and Migration
John Hay and Martin Beniston discuss the implications of environmental change for the peoples of small island states. Published December 2001

Small Islands and the IPCC
John Hay presents a small island's perspective on the IPCC's Third Assessment Report. Published September 2001

Climate Change and Small Island States
John Hay discusses the linkages between science-driven policy and policy-driven science in reference to small island states. Published September 2000

The Alliance of Small Island States
The complexities and challenges confronting small island developing states are as varied and unique as the number of nations that fall into this category. Published September 2000

Science and Policy in the South Pacific
Jon Barnett reports on a Pacific Islands conference which assessed the important links between climate science and policy for this region. Published September 2000

Climate Change in the South Pacific
Roger Jones presents an overview of the results of two recent projects on climate change and sea-level rise in the South Pacific. Published March 2000

Small Island States and the Climate Treaty
John Hay assesses the progress made at the climate negotiations from the perspective of small island states. Published September 1999

Renewable Energy on Small Islands
Thomas Lynge Jensen presents some of the major conclusions from the report Renewable Energy on Small Islands, published in April 1998, supplemented with information gathered since. Published June 1999


On the Web

1.5 To Stay Alive
1.5 To Stay Alive, a song written and performed by Barbadian performance poet Adisa "AJA" Andwele, marks the 1.5 degree Celsius limit to which global surface temperatures can rise before Small Island Developing States are severely compromised in their ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
AOSIS is a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change. It acts as an ad hoc lobby and negotiating voice within the UN system.

Barbados Programme of Action
The Barbados Programme of Action was agreed at the 1994 UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre coordinates the Caribbean region's response to climate change. The Centre is the key node for information on climate change issues and on the region's response to managing and adapting to climate change in the Caribbean.

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre coordinates the Caribbean region's response to climate change. It is the key node for information on climate change issues and on the region's response to managing and adapting to climate change.

Climate Change and Food Security in Pacific Island Countries
Climate Change and Food Security in Pacific Island Countries, from FAO and SPREP, assesses the implications of climate change for food security in the Pacific region. Published December 2008

Division for Sustainable Development
The Division for Sustainable Development provides leadership and is an authoritative source of expertise within the UN system on sustainable development. The context for the Division's work is the implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Barbados Programme of Action for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

EuroCaribbean
EuroCaribbean is a European window for the support of energy sustainability in the Caribbean islands.

Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands
The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands provides information on global developments related to oceans, coasts and Small Island Developing States, particularly activities aimed at achieving oceans-related targets from the World Summit on Sustainable Development and from the Millennium Development Goals through policy analyses, multi-stakeholder dialogues, working groups, roundtables and other approaches.

International Scientific Council for Island Development
The International Scientific Council for Island Development (INSULA) was formally created in 1989 as a non-governmental organization whose aim is to contribute to shape island awareness and develop islands' common future, supporting necessary cooperation and information actions in the scientific and technological fields. INSULA publishes the magazine INSULA, the International Journal of Island Affairs and manages a forum of debates and exchanges

IPCC 2001 on Small Island States
The 2001 assessment of the vulnerability of small island states from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Island Resources Foundation
The island Resource Foundation is developing a unique approach to island development that emphasizes the application of sound science to environmental problem solving, skills building for islanders and collaborative capacity building for island institutionsm, strengthening the availability of information resources for informed decision making and educating international agencies and donor institutions about the uniqueness of islands.

Island Vulnerability
Island Vulnerability explores the challenges which isolated geographies face when dealing with risk and disasters by examining the processes which create, maintain, and could be used to reduce their vulnerability. Documents from the landmark Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise held in the Maldives in 1989 are available.

Kiribati: a Call to the World
With an average 2 metre height above sea level, Kiribati is one of the frontline nations whose continued existence is threatened by the twin effects of sea-level rise and climate change. Kiribati: a Call to the World presents an outline of what I-Kiribati people face, their diminishing options and a heartfelt appeal to the world community.

Many Strong Voices
Many Strong Voices brings the Arctic and Small Island Developing States together to take collaborative and strategic actions on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Programme participants include international organizations, government agencies, non-government organizations, Indigenous Peoples' organizations, research institutes, communities and individuals.

Pacific Climate Change Roundtable
The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable is a regional climate change forum held once every two years. The main aim of the roundtable is to facilitate regional coordination, collaboration and coherence in the implementations of climate change priorities consistent with the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change.

Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy
The Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy, approved in 2002, underscores the importance of the ocean to Pacific Island nations and communities and serves to unify a number of existing regional initiatives relevant to management and development of ocean and coastal resources and environments.

Pacific Plan Online
Pacific Leaders have called for the serious challenges facing the countries of the Pacific to be met through sharing scarce resources and aligning policies to strengthen national capacities to support their people. The Pacific Plan aims to strengthen regional cooperation and integration as the main instrument for realizing this Pacific Vision.

Renewable Energy on Small Islands
Global mapping of renewable energy developments on small islands.

SIDSnet
The Small Island Developing States Network provides a wealth of information about these nations, covering biodiversity, climate change, coastal and marine issues, energy, tourism and trade.

Small Islands Voice
Small Islands Voice provides an interactive forum for people on small islands. The programme also provides resources, publications and multimedia tools and organizes workshops.

SOPAC
SOPAC is the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission. It is an inter-governmental, regional organisation dedicated to providing services to promote sustainable development in the countries it serves.

Sustainable Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands
Sustainable Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands is an UNESCO initiative aimed at promoting the development of coastal regions in a manner which is environmentally sound, socially equitable and culturally appropriate. Combines expertise from natural and social sciences as well as local knowledge and practice.

Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
Linkages provides comprehensive coverage of the landmark 1994 Barbados meeting and follow-up activities.

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States
Background paper prepared for the UNFCCC Expert Meeting on Adaptation for Small Island Developing States, held in Kingston, Jamaica, February 2007. Published February 2007

Autogenerated: 15 May 2015

Bright Ideas

GE cuts solar costs

General Electric plans to cut solar installation costs by half

Project 90 by 2030

Project 90 by 2030 supports South African school children and managers reduce their carbon footprint through its Club programme

Smart street lighting

Bath & North East Somerset Council in the United Kingdom has installed smart LED carriageway lighting that automatically adjusts to light and traffic levels

Longwood Gardens

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the American Public Gardens Association are mounting an educational exhibit at Longwood Gardens showing the link between temperature and planting zones

Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers

The energy-efficient Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers hotel is powered by renewable and sustainable sources, including integrated solar photovoltaics and guest-powered bicycles

El Hierro

El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, plans to generate 80 per cent of its energy from renewable sources

Remarkables Primary School green roof

The green roof on the Remarkables Primary School in New Zealand reduces stormwater runoff, provides insulation and doubles as an outdoor classroom

Weather Info for All

The Weather Info for All project aims to roll out up to five thousand automatic weather observation stations throughout Africa

SolSource

SolSource turns its own waste heat into electricity or stores it in thermal fabrics, harnessing the sun's energy for cooking and electricity for low-income families

Wave House

The Wave House uses vegetation for its architectural and environmental qualities, and especially in terms of thermal insulation

Mbale compost-processing plant

The Mbale compost-processing plant in Uganda produces cheaper fertilizer and reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Frito-Lay Casa Grande

At Casa Grande, Frito-Lay has reduced energy consumption by nearly a fifth since 2006 by, amongst other things, installing a heat recovery system to preheat cooking oil

More Bright Ideas...


Updated: May 15th 2015