Building Climate Resilience of Small Island Developing States - COP22 side-event

On 14 November 2016, the European Union, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and OECD will be hosting an event alongside the COP22 UN Climate Change Conference which takes place in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 7-18 November.

This side event will discuss the increasing climate and disaster related challenges and the innovative solutions that SIDS are implementing as an integral part of their development.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a group of 39 countries that share small sizes, geographic isolation, and a high vulnerability to climate and disaster related disasters. They include two-thirds of the countries that suffer the highest relative losses due to natural disasters (between 1 and 9 percent of their Gross Domestic Product each year), majority of these climate-related.

Leading speakers will share their insights during the event, which will take place between 12:30-14:00 in the EU Pavilion. Please note that speakers may be subject to change.

Opening Remarks

Beatriz Yordi, Head of Unit, DG CLIMA, European Commission

Francis Ghesquiere, Manager, GFDRR

ACP Group of States (TBC)

Jorge Moreira da Silva, Director, OECD

Panel Discussion

Suzanne Steensen, Manager, Development Finance Architecture Unit, OECD

H. E. Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management, Mauritus

Paula Ma'u, CEO for Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster, Environment, Climate Change & Communications, Tonga

Tracy Polius, Permanent Secretary – Planning and National Development, St. Lucia (TBC)

Moderated by

H. E. Angus Friday, Ambassador to the United States, Grenada

Closing Remarks

Felice Zaccheo, Head of Unit, DG DEVCO, Europ. Commission

The discussion will aim at

• Underscoring the challenges that many SIDS face in accessing climate financing
• Building consensus around innovative solutions to strengthen climate and disaster resilience of SIDS
• Identifying partnerships and networks that can help support these solution

Further details can be found here – https://www.gfdrr.org/building-climate-resilience-of-small-island-developing-states-event