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Small Island Developing States

Disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and long-term recovery in the context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Τhis theme covers the unique and particular vulnerabilities of SIDS as well as SIDS’ exposure to climate hazards and sea-level rise.

Latest Small Island Developing States additions in the Knowledge Base

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Empty pier in Varadero, Cuba and a lighthouse in the background.
Update
Why hurricanes rarely kill in Cuba

Hurricane Melissa shows what academics studying disasters have long emphasised: disasters are shaped as much by social vulnerability and governance as they are by violent winds.

Conversation Media Group, the
Unheard voices: The critical role of nurses and midwives in climate resilience and disaster preparedness in Small Island Developing States thumbnail
Documents and publications
Unheard voices: The critical role of nurses and midwives in climate resilience and disaster preparedness in Small Island Developing States

Nurses and midwives are crucial frontline responders, leading disaster preparedness, emergency care, and community recovery. This paper highlights their leadership, resilience, and innovation in addressing the health impacts of climate-related disasters.

Nursing Outlook (Elsevier)
Satellite infrared image Hurricane Melissa
Update
Melissa leaps from tropical storm to Category 4 hurricane in 18 hours

As predicted and feared, Hurricane Melissa has become a formidable hurricane in the central Caribbean that is positioned to wreak havoc over Jamaica.

Yale Climate Connections
Update
Closing the climate information gap: Scaling up early warning systems for Small Island Developing States

Early warning systems and robust climate information and monitoring are crucial to protecting human and physical capital in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from the damage wrought by extreme weather events.

Global Center on Adaptation
woman selling fish on the sidewalk
Documents and publications
State and trends in adaptation report 2025: Small Island Developing States

This report presents innovative solutions and policy recommendations aimed at building resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Global Center on Adaptation
Case study
Trinidad and Tobago
CRM in Trinidad and Tobago: Strengthening Resilience by Linking Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction
UNDRR delivered technical assistance to Trinidad and Tobago, conducting workshops and capacity development activities. The collaboration resulted in an upgraded NAP that aligns DRR and CCA strategies, increasing policy efficiency and resilience.
  • United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
  • Trinidad and Tobago - government
Drone aerial video of Rangiroa atoll island motu and coral reef in French Polynesia, Tahiti.
Blog
Ilan Kelman Frederick H. Damon Dirk H. R. Spennemann Julius Riese
Tsunamis and atolls: why warnings must be locally meaningful
The usual tsunami advice to move inland and to move to high ground might not be possible for many atolls. Generic, international, trans-oceanic warnings need to become locally meaningful. What advice should be given for surviving tsunamis?
Compound and cascading effects of climatic extremes on dengue outbreak risk in the Caribbean: An impact-based modelling framework with long-lag and short-lag interactions thumbnail
Documents and publications
Compound and cascading effects of climatic extremes on dengue outbreak risk in the Caribbean: An impact-based modelling framework with long-lag and short-lag interactions

This study highlights the potential value of incorporating interaction terms in prediction models to account for the compound and cascading effects of climate on disease risk, which could enhance model explainability and predictive performance.

The Lancet Public Health
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