Small island nations like Seychelles are being urged to consider an immediate shift in policies and investment towards renewable energy and green economic growth to avoid exacerbating the impacts of climate change.

The appeal comes in a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).
According to the report climate change-induced sea-level rise in the world's 52 small island nations (Sids) – estimated to be up to four times the global average – continues to be the most pressing threat to their environment and socio-economic development with annual losses at the trillions of dollars due to increased vulnerability. 

In all Sids regions, coral reefs, the frontline for adaptation, are already severely impacted by rising sea surface temperatures. The global net loss of the coral reef cover – around 34 million hectares over two decades – will cost the international economy an estimated US $11.9 trillion, with Sids especially impacted by the loss.
 
The Sids Foresight Report identifies climate change impacts and related sea-level rise as the chief concern among twenty emerging issues impacting the environmental resilience and sustainable development prospects of Sids - including coastal squeeze, land capacity, invasive alien species and threats from chemicals and waste. 

“Rio+20 emphasised that Sids have unique vulnerabilities and require special attention during the evolution of the sustainable development agenda in order to achieve the gains required to lift people out of poverty, create green jobs and provide sustainable energy for all,” said UN under-secretary-general and Unep executive director Achim Steiner. 

“For example, these 52 nations, home to over 62 million people, emit less than one per cent of global greenhouse gases, yet they suffer disproportionately from the climate change that global emissions cause.”

“Fortunately, studies demonstrate that we have the tools and capabilities to head off future developmental setbacks. It is up to the international community to supports Sids – not least through building momentum towards a robust climate agreement – to be agreed in 2015, which will cut emissions and minimise the threat of climate change for these nations,” he added.

The report, launched in Bridgetown on World Environment Day, warns that the magnitude and frequency of many weather and climate-related hazards will increase as climate warming accelerates, especially in small islands. This will lead to disproportionate and compounded climate change impacts, which will adversely affect multiple sectors - from tourism, agriculture and fisheries to energy, freshwater, health and infrastructure, unless ocean-based green economy approaches and policy options are put into action. 

However, it also demonstrates that Sids can transition to an inclusive green economy and ensure a sustainable prosperous future by taking advantage of opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable exploration of unexploited resources, developing an ocean-based green economy and leading the world in the development of inclusive indicators that go beyond Gross Domestic Product to include natural resources.

Sids' vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise is magnified on account of their relatively small land masses, population concentrations, and high dependence on coastal ecosystems for food, livelihood, security and protection against extreme events. 

Among the threats are increased flooding, shoreline erosion, ocean acidification, warmer sea and land temperature, and damage to infrastructure from extreme weather events. Apart from its direct impacts, climate change will have a compounding effect on several socio-economic sectors in Sids.

Yet climate change is expected to negatively impact fisheries, posing a clear challenge to meeting the nutritional needs of growing populations, damaging livelihoods and hampering efforts to lift people out of poverty.

Climate change will also impact tourism, which represents more than 30 per cent of Sids total exports. For example, a 50-centimetre rise in sea-level would result in Grenada losing 60 per cent of its beaches.

Then there is the financial cost of adaptation to climate change: under business-as-usual models, the capital cost of sea-level rise in the Caribbean Community Countries alone is estimated at US $187 billion by 2080.

The report calls on the international community to gear up actions towards reducing climate change impacts, especially in Sids, and to adopt a legally binding agreement that includes clear ambitious targets for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. 

The report highlights a raft of other issues and opportunities, among them:
•    Harnessing renewable energy opportunities
•    Unexploited natural resources
•    Developing an ocean-based green economy

The 2012 Unep Foresight Process on Emerging Global Environmental Issues primarily identified emerging environmental issues and possible solutions on a global scale and perspective. In 2013, Unep carried out a similar exercise to identify priority emerging environmental issues that are of concern to Sids. 

The report, produced by a panel of 11 Sids experts, presents the outcome of the Foresight exercise and is one of Unep's contributions to the Third International Sids Conference to take place in Samoa in Septe      mber 2014. The Seychelles Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet was a contributor to the report. To download the Sids Foresight Report, please visit: www.unep.org

Forrás: www.nation.sc