"The canary in the mine”: How can the UK partner with Small Island Developing States to address their development challenges?
The UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has described Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as the “canary in the mine” of climate change, offering a stark warning of the impact that already poses an existential threat to some nations. Those drastic effects, from costly climate disasters to rising numbers of displaced people, have had acute effects on vulnerable Small Island Developing States but they are increasingly being experienced in cities and countries the world over.
In this context, the International Development Committee will hear Caribbean policymakers’ perspectives on international actors’ development partnerships with Small Island Developing States, and the lessons the UK can draw to enhance the effectiveness of its own response.
Meeting details
The Committee will also be seeking to understand how, against the backdrop of squeezed ODA budgets, the UK can use its diplomatic heft to support Small Island Developing States’ agenda on the international stage, including in the complex ongoing negotiations around Loss and Damage.