IAEA Commits €13.7 Million to Support Small Island Developing States

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pledged €13.7 million to assist Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the United Nations 4th International Conference on SIDS held in May 2024. This commitment will support 26 SIDS through 49 technical cooperation projects during 2024–2025, addressing critical areas such as ocean pollution, microplastics monitoring, cancer care, nutrition, and water resource management.

Conference Highlights

Hua Liu, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation at the IAEA, addressed the conference plenary, emphasizing the importance of building capacity in SIDS to tackle their unique challenges and vulnerabilities. Liu stated, “Through the IAEA commitment, we want to unlock the full potential of our innovative solutions and help concretely build a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous future for SIDS.”

Urgent Need and Historical Context

The International Conference on SIDS, convened every ten years, gathers SIDS representatives and international community members to evaluate small islands' pressing needs and devise strategies to overcome common obstacles. SIDS delegates highlighted increasing barriers to development, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change-induced disasters.

This new IAEA commitment builds on years of support at both national and regional levels. During an ‘Interactive Dialogue’ session on health crises, the IAEA emphasized the pivotal role of nuclear techniques in enhancing human health, from improving cancer care and diagnosing non-communicable diseases to tackling nutrition and ensuring food safety through monitoring harmful contaminants in food.

Addressing Data Gaps

Despite the evident severe effects of converging crises on SIDS, there is a lack of comprehensive historical data to fully understand the implications over time and across regions. At the conference, the IAEA organized a side event with the UN Environment Programme, UN Office for South-South Cooperation, Antigua and Barbuda, and the United States to discuss how best to harness environmental data for SIDS' benefit.

Panellists explored solutions through South-South and triangular cooperation to help scale up successes. The IAEA employs this methodology in its Sub-Regional Approach to the Pacific Islands (SAPI), providing tailored support at the sub-regional level and encouraging resource and expertise sharing among neighboring countries.

Capacity Building and Data Utilization

Representatives from Antigua and Barbuda highlighted the importance of capacity-building programs to ensure continuity of accurate data collection. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade, and Barbuda Affairs, praised nearly ten years of IAEA support that helped Antigua and Barbuda use nuclear techniques to address ongoing environmental challenges. Greene emphasized that environmental data is closely linked to the health and well-being of the population.

“The Fisheries Division has been able to identify safe species for consumption and export, thanks to training and services provided by the IAEA. It allows us to have more science-based policymaking for the safety of our citizens,” said Minister Greene.

Challenges and Opportunities

Panellists also discussed the complexities of data collection and processing, including ensuring standardized methods at the regional level, presenting meaningful analyses to government ministries or public audiences for appropriate action, and using nuclear science and technology to ensure data accuracy.

Closing Remarks

Ambassador Michele Sison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs of the United States, highlighted the critical role of the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in supporting sustainable development.

“The collective promise that we have all made to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and the pledge to leave no one behind have been reiterated repeatedly over the last few days, but it cannot be done without data. It cannot be done without science. The ability of nuclear science-generated data to inform and contribute to policy decisions – all of our lives are depending on it,” said Ambassador Sison.

The IAEA’s €13.7 million commitment signifies a substantial step towards bolstering the resilience and sustainability of SIDS, ensuring they can tackle their unique challenges with robust, science-based solutions.