ABSTRACT
Small island developing states (SIDS) are amongst the most vulnerable in the world. Because of their size, SIDS are unable to capture economies of scale in their domestic markets and political, managerial and technical capacities. They are characterized by open economies in which international trade is more significant than it is in larger states, and they tend to rely on just a few external markets and less diverse production. Remoteness brings with it higher costs in energy, transportation and communications, while extreme weather events can also eradicate a country's gross domestic product (GDP) overnight. Ocean and coastal zones are the backbone of well-being and development in SIDS, so the health of these environments is critical. Coastal areas tend to be densely populated areas and may be low lying, making these countries especially vulnerable to the impacts of sea-level rise, climate change and climate variability (Commonwealth Secretariat, 1997; UNGASS, 1999).
