Economic vulnerability and resilience of small states

Abstract

This chapter highlights UNEP's activities in assisting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in implementing the Barbados Programme of Action for their Sustainable Development. It covers UNEP's response to eight major areas of concern for SIDS, namely climate change and sea level rise, biodiversity resources, coastal and marine resources, coral reef protection and management, natural and environmental disasters management, management of wastes, freshwater resources management, and tourism resources. Future directions with regard to each environmental concern are also identified. The chapter also deals with UNEP's activities with regard to a number of cross-cutting issues in environmental management of interest to SIDS, including multilateral environmental agreements and environmental law, the environmental vulnerability index, capacity building for sustainable development, and environment outlook reports on SIDS.peer-reviewe