Building resilience through better environmental management in small island states : experience from the aims small island states

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the economic and social realities in the AIMS group of Small Island Developing States. It examines the costs of pursuit of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as core objectives for development, and in particular issues arising from the targets for environmental sustainability. It draws attention to gaps in the evidence base for assessment of technical efficiency and implications and anomalies in the use of MDGs for assessing priorities. It offers a framework for intervention to improve the focus for development programmes and for generating capital formation. The chapter also reviews the regional role as defined in the Mauritius Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and its relevance in promoting cost-effective initiatives and programmes to improve resilience.