Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) Problems in the Focus of Sustainable Developing Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

The article seeks to identify the main constraints of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within sustainable development context, which are, on the one hand, characterized by extraordinary biological diversity, cultural and heritage sites, but, on the other hand, such States are at disadvantage due to their geographical remoteness from the mainland and heavily dependence from climatic conditions. The article states that due to the lack of approved criteria for SIDS there is only an unofficial list made up by UNCTAD and the list of the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). The major problems which impede Small Island Developing States’ development are climate change, sea-level rise, dependency on imported fossil fuel, problem of food security, complicated access to improved drinking water due to contamination and overloading of groundwater and coastal waters, salt water intrusion, drought and soil erosion, emergence of problems connected with sustainable waste management due to Small Island Developing States’ isolated position, transmissible and non-transmissible diseases and poverty. In conclusion the author postulates the necessity of developing and approving the criteria for allocation or identification of SIDS to precisely identify the beneficiary States of international support.