As leading tourist destinations, they reap not only the benefits but also the costs. They are especially vulnerable to natural disasters. And their very existence is imperilled by the sea-level rise brought by global warming. Five years ago, more than 100 countries, meeting in Barbados, drew up a Declaration and Programme of Action calling on island nations and the international community to tackle these issues in partnership. Most small island developing states have taken positive steps since then, but international assistance to them has declined.
Small islands are microcosms for our world.
We are all inhabitants of the global island, surrounded by the limitless ocean of space. If we can find solutions to the special vulnerabilities of islands, it will help us address more global problems. Small islands, big issues', was the slogan we used for the Barbados Conference in 1994. That sentiment remains just as true today. Both trends increase pollution and pressure on resources.