Our Ocean 2024 Side Event - Coastal resilience in the climate crisis: Supporting solutions for small island developing states

Date & Time: April 16, 2024, 11:00 - 11:50am

Location: Our Ocean Conference, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Multifunctional Room 1

Event Description:

Small island developing states (“SIDS”), where the ocean is central to livelihoods, history, and culture, are particularly vulnerable to ocean-climate impacts. Both sudden-onset events, such as more intense storms and flash flooding, as well as slow-onset events such as sea level rise and shifting fisheries present existential risks, which are exacerbated by SIDS’ structural economic vulnerabilities (e.g., remoteness, heavy reliance on a small number of sectors). Yet, investment toward the ocean remains limited, only about 4% of total ODA commitments to SIDS in 2020-2021. Where finance is available, it is often not clear how best to invest it to spur resilient development.

Accelerating the implementation of solutions for coastal adaptation and resilience to these climate impacts and supporting SIDS in building sustainable ocean economies are critical to ensuring the continued well-being of vulnerable island communities.

This event will explore different strategies and partnership opportunities available to small island states in building ocean-climate resilience. The discussion will frame the challenges and opportunities that small island developing states face in adapting to a changing ocean, as well as the importance of innovative policies and partnerships that support resilience-building. Panelists will then highlight a variety of solutions-oriented initiatives, including sustainable ocean economic development projects working to build long-term economic resilience to climate change; innovative financing strategies and mechanisms; and tools that can help support climate-resilient infrastructure and spatial planning. In particular, Blue Recovery Hubs, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, and the Pacific Resilience Facility will be highlighted as solutions to help SIDS address their vulnerabilities, provide evidence-based policy support, and mobilize relevant stakeholders.

Lead: U.S. Department of State, OECD, WRI, WEF

Speakers:

• • Sue Biniaz – Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate
  • Karen Sack – Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance
  • Tom Pickerell – World Resources Institute
  • Taholo Kami – Kami Pasifiki
  • Lysi Wini – Solomon Islands Coordinator, Nia Tero
  • Jainey Bavishi – Deputy Administrator, NOAA
  • E. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations