Small island developing states (SIDS) face disproportionately high risks from natural disasters like cyclones, earthquakes, and sea level rise due to their small size, isolation, and vulnerability to climate change impacts. The 52 SIDS are located in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Africa-Indian-Atlantic-South China Sea regions and experience elevated disaster risks compared to continental countries. Due to factors like their geography, topography, and proximity to tectonic plate boundaries, SIDS are at risk from tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Rising sea levels also threaten several SIDS with complete submersion if warming trends continue. International cooperation and disaster risk reduction strategies tailored to each SIDS' unique hazards

1. The Disaster Risk Landscape for
Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
James M. Shultz
Presented at: 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC), Global Risk Forum, Davos, Switzerland, 30 August 2016

2. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
Special places. Special risks.
In contrast to continental nations,
the world’s 52 small island developing states (SIDS)
form a collective of countries that experience
similar and disproportionate challenges
for sustainable development
related to their
geography,
small size,
and physical isolation.

3. Small Island Developing States: Global Distribution
Caribbean-23
AIMS-9
Pacific-20

4. Small Island Developing States: Global Distribution

5. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
Special places. Special risks.
SIDS face elevated risks
for disaster incidence and consequences
particularly in the realms of
climate change,
sea level rise,
natural disasters
(tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes),
and marine hazardous materials spills.

6. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States:
Disproportionate Risks from Climate Change

7. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States:
Disproportionate Risks from Climate Change

8. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States

9. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States

10. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks - Earthquakes

11. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – 2010 Haiti Earthquake

12. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – 2010 Haiti Earthquake

13. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – 2010 Haiti Earthquake

14. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – 2015 Hurricane Joaquín - Bahamas

15. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
For SIDS, the disaster risk landscape
is shaped by the features of these island states:
1) small size and correspondingly limited resources;
2) elevated disaster frequency and severitya
3) physical isolation from other nationsb
a. based on:
geography (tropical latitude and longitude)
geophysics (seismicity, volcanicity, proximity to tectonic plate boundaries)
topography (sea level elevation, 360o
coastal perimeter, terrain)
b. precisely because SIDS are individual islands or clusters of islands.

16. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – Volcanic Eruption Risks - Dominica

17. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – February 2015 Ambrym Volcano - Vanuatu
Vanuatu:
February 2015
•Earthquake
•Tsunami
•Volcanic eruption

18. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – Vanuatu: March 2015 - Cyclone Pam

19. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – Vanuatu: March 2015 - Cyclone Pam

20. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – March 2015 Four Tropical Cyclones Including Pam

21. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – March 2015 Four Tropical Cyclones Including Pam

22. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
For SIDS, the trifecta of
1) natural disaster vulnerability,
2) climate change, and
3) rising ocean levels
act synergistically to exacerbate disaster risks.

23. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – February 2016 Cyclones Tatiana and Winston

24. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – February 2016 Cyclone Winston - Fiji

25. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – February 2016 Cyclone Winston - Fiji

26. SIDS: Natural Disaster Risks – Island Submersion and Coastal Flooding

27. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
The SIDS act inadvertently as an
early warning network
for detecting the initial signs
of insidious global threats.

28. Small Island Developing States: Coastal and Climate Vulnerabilities

29. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability

30. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Tuvalu: 10 miles2
above sea level

31. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Vanuatu

32. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Tonga

33. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Barbados

34. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Kiribati

35. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing StatesSmall Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Kiribati

36. Small Island Developing States: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability
Maldives capital city of Male

37. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and
Disaster Risk Management (DRM) strategies
must be tailored to the unique constellation of
disaster hazards and vulnerabilities
that characterize the SIDS.

38. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States
The ability of the SIDS to form
robust alliances among counterpart island nations
is an urgent imperative as is the need for
the infusion of international support
to enhance disaster resilience.

39. Small Island Developing States: UN Coordination

40. Small Island Developing States: UN Project Support

41. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States

42. Disaster Risk Landscape for Small Island Developing States