PM Modi launch ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ for most vulnerable countries

Last Updated03/11/2021

IRIS facility is a joint initiative with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Small island states are uniquely threatened by climate change and rising sea levels.
Two Pacific islands are at risk of disappearing by the end of this century, and some communities are already having to relocate.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct group of 38 UN Member States and 20 Non-UN Members/Associate Members of United Nations regional commissions that face unique social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities.
The three geographical regions in which SIDS are located are: the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS).
Climate change has a very tangible impact on SIDS.
Slow onset events such as sea level rise pose an existential threat to small island communities, requiring drastic measures such as relocation of populations, and the related challenges this poses.
These challenges are compounded by limited institutional capacity, scarce financial resources and a high degree of vulnerability to systemic shocks.

The new IRIS fund will support small island states to develop resilient, sustainable infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks, protecting lives and livelihoods.
The UK will contribute an initial £10 million to the fund, which will provide targeted technical assistance.

It is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions.
The Prime Minister of India launched CDRI during his speech at the UN Climate Action Summit on 23rd September 2019.
It aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.