2 September 2014: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO) Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Outlook, on the sidelines of the Third International Conference on SIDS. The report describes SIDS trends and outlooks, including challenges related to SIDS’s isolation, remoteness and out-migration as well as climate change, natural disasters, water shortages and increasing food and fuel prices, among others.According to the report, SIDS can become the “environmental economies of the future” through four integrated actions: building a diversified blue-green economy; technological leapfrogging; prioritizing island culture; and reconnecting with nature.

SIDS scientists, policymakers and other experts identified these four SIDS outlooks through a process to identify key attributes for developing sustainable development pathways for SIDS. Based on this process, the experts proposed elements for a SIDS sustainability policy framework, which takes into account the draft SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (S.A.M.O.A) Pathway, the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national SIDS’ submission to the Conference.

The report also highlights actions already being taken by SIDS, ranging from regional climate adaptation plans and development of early warning systems to pursuing domestic renewable energy through the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative and the SIDS DOCK sustainable energy initiative for geothermal energy.

Speaking at a press event on the report, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner explained the GEO expert team from SIDS identified “significant changes in both global policy and on islands themselves” when preparing the report. He elaborated that “improvements in line with the blue-green economy would include…economic diversification, economic approaches to improve the management of biodiversity, resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production (SCP).”

The GEO SIDS Outlook is part of UNEP’s GEO series and is a follow up to the UNEP/UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Foresight Process report on ‘Emerging Issues for SIDS.’ UNEP developed the report as a contribution to the Third International Conference on SIDS, and an input to the development of the SDGs. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: GEO SIDS Outlook] [IISD RS Coverage of SIDS Conference] [IISD RS Story on Foresight Report]