The IDB publication, titled ‘A Blue Urban Agenda: Adapting to Climate Change in the Coastal Cities of Caribbean and Pacific Small Island Developing States,’ evaluates the lessons learnt from urban coastal adaptation programmes in SIDS.
It analyzes the impacts of climate change and the vulnerability of SIDS through an "urban lens," as well as adaptation approaches and measures adopted by SIDS in response to climate change.
18 May 2017: Building capacity to adapt to climate change and increase resilience in cities in coastal zones in small island developing States (SIDS), especially those experiencing rapid urbanization, is critical, explains a report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The report details how SIDS can adopt a ‘Blue Urban Agenda’ to better face the challenges posed by climate change.
The publication, titled ‘A Blue Urban Agenda: Adapting to Climate Change in the Coastal Cities of Caribbean and Pacific Small Island Developing States,’ evaluates the lessons learnt from urban coastal adaptation programmes in SIDS. It analyzes the impacts of climate change and the vulnerability of SIDS through an “urban lens,” as well as adaptation approaches and measures adopted by SIDS in response to climate change.
The IDB report explains that of the 29 million residents in Caribbean and Pacific SIDS, 4.2 million live in low-elevation coastal zones less than 10 meters above sea level.
The report also offers policy recommendations to address coastal city vulnerability and strengthen urban resiliency, as well as a strategy to help SIDS combat climate change in a manner that is aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda, in which countries committed to promote environmentally sustainable and resilient urban development in SIDS. In particular, this will help SIDS realize SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (climate action), among others.
The report explains that: of the 29 million residents in Caribbean and Pacific SIDS, 4.2 million live in low-elevation coastal zones less than 10 meters above sea level; by 2100, the cost of rising sea levels as a percentage of GDP will be highest in SIDS; and unique patterns of urban growth in SIDS, such as rapid urbanization rates, vulnerable coastal locations of cities and high levels of informal urbanism, can lead to increased vulnerability to climate change and have significant implications for adaptation strategies. It draws comparisons between the Caribbean and Pacific SIDS on issues related to climate change, urban development, housing and access to climate funds.
The report includes a SIDS donor mapping analysis, which shows how donors have helped SIDS adapt to climate change through the provision of US$55.6 billion in official development assistance (ODA) between 1995 and 2015. The IDB, in particular, has provided US$200 million to more than 50 programmes in coastal city adaptation and improved urban planning in Caribbean SIDS. The report also places emphasis on comprehensive, rather than sectoral, programmes and strengthening urban resilience, including through urban governance and institutional capacity building in city planning agencies.
Policy recommendations include: mainstreaming resilience to climate change in cities; improving readiness to access and utilize climate funds and insurance; integrating climate change adaptation with disaster risk reduction (DRR); building governance and institutional capacity; planning for land-use; implementing building codes; upgrading infrastructure and developing green infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation; reducing disaster risk; and using a range of financial instruments to mobilize resources to strengthen urban resilience. [Publication: A Blue Urban Agenda: Adapting to Climate Change in the Coastal Cities of Caribbean and Pacific Small Island Developing States] [IDB Press Release] [Publication Landing Page]