At the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barduda last week, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the $135 million Blue and Green Islands Integrated Programme (BGI-IP).
This groundbreaking initiative focuses on implementing nature-based solutions in urban development, food production, and tourism across 15 selected SIDS, chosen through a competitive “Expressions of Interest” process. But Tonga is not among those 15 lucky island nations. Five of the selected countries are from the Pacific
Targeting the Caribbean, Pacific, and Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIS) sub-regions, BGI-IP aims to foster nature-positive changes that combat environmental degradation and bolster community resilience against climate impacts. The initiative will support sustainable agriculture and fisheries, promote eco-friendly tourism, reduce pollution, and enhance resilience to extreme weather events.
Managed by the UNDP and funded by the GEF and partners, including UNEP, FAO, the World Bank, WWF-U.S., IUCN, and UNCCD, the BGI-IP represents a substantial commitment to sustainable economic diversification and job creation.
“SIDS are on the frontlines of climate change and nature loss,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “The Blue and Green Islands Programme will scale up nature-based solutions, improving lives and reviving our natural world.”
GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodríguez highlighted the importance of SIDS as incubators of innovation for sustainable development, noting that the program aims to provide decision-makers with critical information and resources for impactful initiatives.
Clearly, this initiative will benefit Tonga immensely given the climate rhetoric we’ve heard from the Government but it is still unclear at this point as to why Tonga was not selected and whether it submitted a failed bid.
Tonga’s PM heads the delegation to SIDS4 and during his keynote address he proposed a transformative climate financing as yet another regional approach to addressing climate change.
“Let there be no doubt, we must urgently secure unprecedented levels of financial investments to move ahead,” he said. “We must discuss this within the context of the current climate finance deficit. If we do not do so in an open and result oriented way, climate finance investment and programming will remain piecemeal and reactive.”
According to Government, there’s a dire need for climate financing required for Tonga’s climate proofing projects but will have to continue to look for donor partners.
The 15 island states selected include Belize, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Cuba, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vanuatu.
