NEWS & EVENTS

CSRI Initiative meeting at SB60 

June 5, 2024


The side event at SB60 will be informed by the outcomes of a preceding side event at SIDS4. It will offer an opportunity to discuss the sustainability of the CSRI Initiative and options for a follow up support. It will be a platform for interested countries to confirm their commitments to and priorities for the CSRI water security program and discuss next steps to advance it. A CSRI roadmap for private sector engagement, also developed as part of the concluding readiness project, as well as relevant SIDS4 outcomes, will provide a starting point to map key private sector stakeholders for the CSRI Initiative and discuss options for effective business engagement to advance priorities for climate smart resilient islands.

CSRI side event SIDS4 Conference

27 May, 2024


The CSRI Initiative side event will bring together regional and international stakeholders to explore transformative pathways and collaborative partnerships for translating the ambitious goals of SIDS4 into tangible climate action. As a platform for collaboration, the CSRI Initiative aims to make climate finance effective for SIDS and the unique challenges they face. With a specific focus on water security, the side event seeks to identify champions willing to take initiative to jointly advance the CSRI Climate Resilient Water Security Programme.

CSRI side event COP28: Fostering SIDS-wide Collaboration for Climate Action

December 4, 2023

On the sidelines of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, the Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy of the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Thoriq Ibrahim, chaired a side event on the Climate Smart Resilient Islands (CSRI) Initiative. 

The event reinforced the added value of the CSRI Initiative as well as the great potential of its Climate Resilient Water Security Programme, which is being developed with readiness support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). This vital programme of the CSRI Initiative is a global, SIDS-driven approach working towards the end goal of achieving climate-resilient, environmentally healthy, and water-secure island nations. 

In a panel discussion with Minister Thoriq, Ms. Carolina Fuentes, Director of Country Programming Division of the Green Climate Fund, and the Minister of Natural Resources & Environment of Samoa, His Excellency Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, highlighted the synergies and complementarity of the CSRI Initiative with other global and regional SIDS initiatives.

Concluding his statement, Minister Thoriq reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Maldives to the CSRI Initiative and invited country representatives and regional organizations to join in shaping its Climate Resilient Water Security Programme. 

CSRI Country Engagement: Islands Meeting 

June 7, 2023

On the sidelines of the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB56), representatives from small island developing states (SIDS) convened to jointly identify new SIDS-driven project ideas for the Green Climate Fund. H.E Khadeeja Naseem, Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Republic of Maldives, chaired the event. 

During the meeting, two priority project areas, namely Climate Information Services and Water Security, were successfully identified as having high potential impact and relevance for the participants. There was a notable emphasis on the necessity for innovative and relevant solutions tailored to the unique challenges and contexts of individual SIDS. This entails ensuring that technology solutions are not only fit-for-purpose but also sustainable in the long term. Moreover, the session underscored the significance of fostering collaboration, inter-regional linkages, sharing best practices, peer learning, and promoting South-South cooperation as essential components for addressing these pressing issues effectively.
This session kicked off the consultation process for development of the CSRI Climate Resilient Water Security Programme. It was followed by joint online write-shops and consultation sessions with the participating countries, direct access entities and potential programme partners in October 2023, March and April 2024. This vital programme is a global, SIDS-driven approach working towards the end goal of achieving climate-resilient, environmentally healthy, and water-secure island nations. You can find more information on the process and how to participate here.

Inception meeting on GCF Readiness support for the CSRI Initiative

June 10, 2022

In June 2022, GIZ hosted the inception meeting for the Climate Smart Resilient Islands Initiative in Bonn, Germany. Chaired by H.E Khadeeja Naseem, Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Republic of Maldives, the meeting had the purpose of providing interested countries with more information on the GCF Readiness support for the CSRI Initiative. After presentations about the Initiative and a Q&A session, these were the key takeaways:

  • Regional approaches and learning across all three regions (Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean) are key to safeguarding SIDS’ future and sustainable development. They should play an important role in implementing CSRI readiness support. 
  • The central role of regional organizations and the work they are already doing as well as the knowledge they have started to build up must be acknowledged and put to use. This readiness support will investigate how to best integrate and capitalize on the knowledge and strengths of regional organizations in operationalizing the CSRI Initiative. 
  • The CSRI Initiative and this readiness support will not duplicate ongoing collaboration efforts but deepen synergies with the existing initiatives. It is also critical to make sure that we take the capacity constraints of SIDS institutions into consideration in the design of future work. 
  • To tackle the climate crisis, it is critical for islands to work together, capitalize on good practices, and collaborate on common issues.