Small Island Developing States
Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) comprise 39 States and 18 territories across the Caribbean, Pacific, and AIMS regions (Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and South China Sea). Recognized by the United Nations in 1992 as a distinct group of developing countries, they share common structural vulnerabilities related to their small size, geographic isolation, limited economic diversification, and high exposure to the impacts of climate change.
The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are among the regions most vulnerable to climate change. Sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, extreme weather events, and the degradation of coastal ecosystems pose direct threats to communities, natural resources, and food security.
Since 2007, Italy has supported the PSIDS through multilateral programs aimed at strengthening climate resilience and promoting sustainable development. The initiatives, coordinated by the AICS Office in Hanoi, currently focus on the energy sector, with particular emphasis on the promotion of renewable energy sources, improved access to energy, and the enhancement of the sustainability and resilience of energy systems across Pacific Island countries.
In particular, the Italian Development Cooperation is active in Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands, where it supports renewable energy and electrification initiatives. These interventions contribute to reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, strengthening energy security, and advancing the transition towards more sustainable and resilient energy systems.
In 2025, during the United Nations Ocean Conference held in Nice, the PSIDS reaffirmed their leadership role in ocean governance, advocating for the expansion of marine protected areas in line with the global 30×30 target, which aims to protect at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.
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