Urban Resilience and Sustainable Urban Development in Small Island Developing States

Rapid urbanization represents a significant challenge for national and local governments in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Growing populations in the limited land space puts pressure on already fragile coastal ecosystems and agricultural areas, which are also affected by the adverse impact of climate change. Increased mobility of people and goods pose specific challenges to governments in providing basic infrastructures and services for settlements. Urbanization could provide opportunities for governments to enhance resilience through sustainable water and waste management, and building robust infrastructure including public transportation. Mainstreaming climate change issues into urban planning is crucial. This high-level side event is intended to address diversity of urban issues faced by SIDS and to provide guidance on the best way to enhance their resilience and sustainability of their human settlements. The event will provide an opportunity for participants to share best practices to improve urban planning, governance, and institutional mechanisms. The event will also discuss how enhancing urban resilience and promoting sustainable urban development could contribute to the implementation of the global agendas and frameworks including the New Urban Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sendai Framework, and the SAMOA Pathway.