The combined emissions of small islands represent less than 1 per cent of global emissions. Yet these islands are the most vulnerable to changes in climate patterns, and rising sea levels can cause loss of land along coastlines of low-lying islands, disrupting economies and livelihoods.
In the Caribbean, for example, a 50-centimeter rise in sea level will result in Grenada losing 60 per cent of its beaches. Severe shifts in climate patterns also cause havoc on entire livelihoods. Hurricane damage to Dominica has been damaging to its fruit industry, which provides thousands of jobs and produces 30,000 tons of bananas, avocados and other fruits annually.
Projects to mitigate and adapt to climate change are in place, however. For example, in Antigua and Barbuda, where irregular weather patterns have caused droughts and excessive rainfall, efforts are underway to build artificial rainwater catchments to help farmers, whose agriculture production has been affected by these climate shifts. Several Caribbean Small Island States (SIDS) are also working to achieve climate neutrality through the use of renewable energy and other approaches.