IRIS is an initiative to strengthen the infrastructure of small island developing states. It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP26 meeting which was held in the city of Glasgow in the month of November 2021.
Highlights
IRIS forms a part of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). CDRI is an initiative presented by India at the 2019 UN General Assembly. However, little work was done on CDRIs between 2019 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IRIS aims to change this situation and provide initial momentum. CDRI was launched to improve the resiliency of critical infrastructure. As of November 2021, 25 countries have joined the CDRI.
Significance of Infrastructure for Resilient Island State
Small islands are vulnerable to sea level rise. Hurricanes also threaten settlements as well as infrastructure. According to a report by the United Nations Office of Project Services, about 20% of the world’s biodiversity is found in small island countries, facing severe impacts from climate change. Meanwhile, they account for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A resilient infrastructure seems to be the only solution to the problem of sinking island nations. Therefore, there is a need to focus on common infrastructure across all sectors such as energy, transportation, water supply, digital communications, solid waste, wastewater and buildings which the IRIS should focus on.
Need for Infrastructure for Resilient Island State
Small island nations are the most vulnerable to climate change on the planet as they are most affected by climate change. All the infrastructure of a small island nation is very important to them. Large countries with large territories such as India, the United States, or African countries may have 10 airports. Therefore, if one or two airports in such a large country are affected by a natural disaster, they will respond by changing the route to another airport. On the other hand, small island countries are equipped with only one such small runway. When it is damaged, the country loses contact with the rest of the world. Therefore, it is important to build an infrastructure that is protected from the fickle nature. Such infrastructure must be protected from the climate. CDRI’s work begins in a small island nation to achieve this goal.
About Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Modi launched at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Change Summit in New York, USA in September 2019. This is a platform on which knowledge about various aspects of infrastructure disasters and climate resilience is generated and exchanged. Mechanisms will be introduced to help countries improve their infrastructure development practices as well as capabilities in response to economic needs and risk situations. To date, 25 countries have joined the coalition, including Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia and the United States. CDRI is India’s second international cooperation in the field of climate change, with the International Solar Alliance being the other.
About Small Island Developing States
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is an independent group of 38 UN member states and 20 non-UN member states / associate members of the United Nations Regional Commission, with unique economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities. UN Conference on Environment and Development recognized SIDA in the year 1992. The Future We Want document, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the year 2012, highlighted the special and unique vulnerabilities of small island developing countries. SIDS is located in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian, Atlantic and South China Seas. The Barbados Program of Action was developed in the year 1994 to support SIDS’ sustainable development efforts.
