Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States: Issues and Challenges (Economic Paper Series): No. 80

About one fifth of all politically independent countries are small island developing states. For these countries, sustainable development is not a matter of choice, it is imperative. Highly vulnerable due to their size and isolation, small states have had to pursue development paths that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. They also face particularly stark impacts from climate change. This book details experiences and lessons from small island developing states in their efforts to balance environment and development needs, and getting these to work in harmony. Above all the message of this book is that this process still has some way to go, but we have learned valuable lessons that will help to support integrated and participatory planning for sustainable development in the future. In five chapters the expert contributors discuss: existing national sustainable development strategies; Papua New Guinea’s experience in implementing sustainable development; the significance of ocean and marine resource management; renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation technologies; the threat of climate change. This book initiates a debate on how to support a new wave of action for sustainable development.

Contributors include David Barrett; Lino Briguglio; Saki Hirano; Kanayathu Koshy; Padma Narsey Lal; Albert Nita (deceased); Leonard Nurse; Janet Strachan; Constance Vigilance; Poh Poh Wong.

Janet Strachan advises on sustainable development at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She co-ordinated the Commonwealth Secretariat’s strategies for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the 2005 Small Island Developing States Summit in Mauritius, and the development of its work on climate change.

Constance Vigilance works at the Commonwealth Secretariat as the Economic Adviser responsible for Small States. She holds a Masters in International Affairs in Economic Policy Management from Columbia University, New York.