Norway
Commission on Sustainable Development Sixteenth Session
Norway?s intervention on SIDS 23 February 2009
In view of the magnitude of both present and forecasted climate change in the SIDS, these
regions stand out as harbingers of what may be in store for the rest of the planet. Hence, we
need to strengthen our efforts to promote action in the area of adaptation and reduction of
vulnerability in small island developing states. Support to the Mauritius Strategy is in this
respect crucial.
As mentioned by a number of previous speakers, support is essential for the SIDS in order
to enable them to tackle climate change, which poses new and unprecedented challenges to
these countries? adaptive capacity and resilience.
Norway will continue to provide support for small island developing states. We will do so
through contributions to for example the Global Environment Facility and the special funds
operated by the GEF; and through support for the United Nations Environment Programme
and through research cooperation on adaptation to climate change between Center for
International Climate and Environmental Research and the Caribbean Community Climate
Change Centre.
In this respect, Norway attaches particular importance to women?s empowerment,
sustainable management of natural resources and rural development, which are closely
linked etc. in fisheries. However, we find it very important to establish a cross-sectoral
approach to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Many measures for
mitigating and adapting to climate change also help in reducing the vulnerability with natural
disasters which can have a particularly devastating impact on vulnerable island states.
Policies for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction should therefore be
integrated in sectoral policies as well as in national development plans. This was also the
main conclusion of an intersessional meeting on dealing with natural disasters and climate
change that we reported on at our last meeting.
Norway?s intervention on SIDS 23 February 2009
In view of the magnitude of both present and forecasted climate change in the SIDS, these
regions stand out as harbingers of what may be in store for the rest of the planet. Hence, we
need to strengthen our efforts to promote action in the area of adaptation and reduction of
vulnerability in small island developing states. Support to the Mauritius Strategy is in this
respect crucial.
As mentioned by a number of previous speakers, support is essential for the SIDS in order
to enable them to tackle climate change, which poses new and unprecedented challenges to
these countries? adaptive capacity and resilience.
Norway will continue to provide support for small island developing states. We will do so
through contributions to for example the Global Environment Facility and the special funds
operated by the GEF; and through support for the United Nations Environment Programme
and through research cooperation on adaptation to climate change between Center for
International Climate and Environmental Research and the Caribbean Community Climate
Change Centre.
In this respect, Norway attaches particular importance to women?s empowerment,
sustainable management of natural resources and rural development, which are closely
linked etc. in fisheries. However, we find it very important to establish a cross-sectoral
approach to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Many measures for
mitigating and adapting to climate change also help in reducing the vulnerability with natural
disasters which can have a particularly devastating impact on vulnerable island states.
Policies for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction should therefore be
integrated in sectoral policies as well as in national development plans. This was also the
main conclusion of an intersessional meeting on dealing with natural disasters and climate
change that we reported on at our last meeting.
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