Recommendations & Conclusions
26 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Not Addressed
We welcome the Government’s publication of the Small Island Developing States Strategy 2022–2026. Being a firm, committed supporter of SIDS in addressing their developmental and environmental challenges is not only morally right; it is also in the UK’s geopolitical interest. However, we are concerned that, given the absence of measurable …
Government response. The government welcomes the report and reiterates its commitment to supporting SIDS through international advocacy, programmes, and recent funding announcements, but does not address the committee's concern about the lack of measurable objectives in the SIDS strategy.
2
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Deferred
The Government must honour the commitment it made to provide the Committee with a written update on progress in delivering the SIDS Strategy across the six areas of focus by 30 September 2024. Points that the report should cover are listed in Annex
Government response. The government states it paused drafting the requested progress report due to the general election, but will submit a report as part of a wider UK SIDS Strategy refresh exercise, reflecting the new government's priorities.
3
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
We recognise that there could be risks in moving towards the use of vulnerability- based measures in determining ODA eligibility. However, such a move is necessary for ensuring that vulnerable SIDS have the opportunity to access UK aid. It will remain for individual donor countries to determine where the need …
Government response. The government agrees that current ODA processes for SIDS require improvement and is using its influence within the OECD to advocate for strengthened processes that better incorporate SIDS' vulnerabilities, while also supporting the development of a multidimensional vulnerability index.
4
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted in Part
The UK Government should use its membership of, and influence within, the OECD to advocate that ODA eligibility criteria be reformed to reflect SIDS’ vulnerabilities. This could take the form of a ‘small island exception’ as employed by the World Bank or a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), such as that …
Government response. The government partly agrees, stating UK representatives are advocating within the OECD for strengthened ODA processes to better reflect SIDS' vulnerabilities, working with like-minded donors. While supporting the principle, they note further improvements are needed for the UN MVI and …
5
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
Accessing climate finance from international organisations such as the Green Climate Fund is a challenge for Small Island Developing States. As co-chair of the GCF in 2024, the UK is well-positioned to push for reforms that benefit SIDS. The UK Government should use its co-chairmanship of the Green Climate Fund’s …
Government response. The government agrees, stating that as co-chair of the GCF, the UK has supported and ensured progress on reforms to improve SIDS' access, including restructuring the Secretariat, streamlining project approvals, and advancing regional presence and accreditation policies for decision in …
6
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
The UK Government should use its co-chairmanship of the Green Climate Fund’s board to advocate for policies that will improve SIDS’ access to GCF resources, consistent with the commitments outlined in its 2024–27 Strategic Plan—especially in the area of simplified application procedures.
Government response. The government agrees and, as GCF Co-Chair in 2024, has supported reforms to improve SIDS' access, including streamlining project approval and progressing policies on regional presence and accreditation, in line with the GCF Strategic Plan.
7
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Not Addressed
We are concerned that the UK labels the climate finance it provides via multilateral development banks as “grants”, but that these are disbursed in the form of loans to recipient countries.
Government response. The government's response details the scale of climate finance needed and the importance of mobilising private capital, but does not address the committee's concern regarding whether climate finance reported as grants is disbursed as loans through multilateral development banks.
8
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Not Addressed
The UK Government should ensure that any climate finance it reports as grant funding is disbursed to recipient countries as such, and not in the form of loans. (Paragraph 33) 42 The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy
Government response. The government's response discusses the overall scale of climate finance needed and the importance of mobilising private capital, but does not directly address the recommendation to ensure reported climate finance designated as grants is disbursed as such.
9
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
As a major shareholder of the World Bank and IMF, the UK is well-placed to take the lead in advocating for governance reforms that secure better representation for SIDS on these bodies. While this Committee recognises that better board representation would not guarantee that SIDS would enjoy seamless access to …
Government response. The government agrees it is championing the priorities of vulnerable countries, including SIDS, at international financial institutions and will continue to champion greater voice for them on the World Bank and IMF Boards.
10
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
Therefore, in addition to using its own influence within international financial institutions to advocate for reforms that benefit SIDS, the UK Government should also explore how SIDS might be better represented on the World Bank and IMF boards, potentially using the Green Climate Fund’s governance structure as a guide. (Paragraph …
Government response. The government agrees and states it will continue to champion greater voice for the lowest income and most vulnerable countries, including SIDS, on the World Bank and IMF Boards.
11
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Acknowledged
The Committee is concerned that, given its importance to Small Island Developing States, the UK SIDS Strategy makes no mention of issues of loss and damage. We are also disappointed that, having stated its aspiration in the SIDS Strategy to “lend [ … ] our voice to advocate for issues …
Government response. The UK will advocate for minimum allocations for SIDS and LDCs through its seat on the Loss and Damage Fund Board and push for ambitious financing, including new and innovative sources and highly concessional finance.
12
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted in Part
Now that the agreement is in place, the UK Government should use its seat on the Loss and Damage Fund board to advocate that the Fund disburses its funding in the form of grants.
Government response. The government will use its seat on the Loss and Damage Fund Board to push for minimum allocations for vulnerable countries and explore innovative financing, and recognizes the need for highly concessional finance.
13
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Rejected
The Committee welcomes the Government’s £60 million pledge to the UNFCCC’s Loss and Damage Fund, but is disappointed that this is drawn from previously announced commitments. The Committee understands the Minister’s contention that wider funding streams are needed, but until these are agreed upon, it befalls to donors such as …
Government response. The government disagrees with the committee's disappointment, stating it used existing ICF funds for an early pledge to the Loss and Damage Fund to demonstrate commitment and will consider further contributions only once the fund's operating model is established.
14
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Rejected
The UK Government should pledge new and additional funding to the Loss and Damage Fund. (Paragraph 45) Legal implications of sea level rise
Government response. The government disagrees with pledging new and additional funding now, stating it already pledged £40 million to the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28 from its existing £11.6 billion climate finance commitment, and will only consider further contributions once the …
15
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
The issues of legal statehood and maritime zone continuity provide the UK Government with an opportunity to exercise international leadership in supporting SIDS to address an existential threat.
Government response. The government partly agrees, demonstrating its international leadership by changing its position on fixed maritime zones and publishing a statement, while actively considering the continuity of statehood and supporting relevant research through its £110+ million CLARE programme.
16
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted in Part
In the light of the ILC’s impending report on the topic, the UK Government should commit to working with like-minded states to explore ways of (i) formally recognising the continuity of Small Island Developing States’ legal statehood, should all their The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy 43 inhabitable land …
Government response. The government partly agrees, having formally accepted that maritime zone baselines may remain fixed and published a statement, but it is still carefully considering the issue of continuity of statehood, noting it will review a relevant international report in 2025.
17
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Acknowledged
This Committee acknowledges and welcomes the UK Government’s efforts to ensure that its capacity-building programmes in Small Island Developing States are driven by local needs. However, these efforts can be undermined by short-term funding horizons.
Government response. The government partly agrees, highlights existing multi-year programmes for SIDS, but states further development is contingent on the upcoming Spending Review process, while also noting inherent limitations of multi-year funding.
18
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted in Part
In its partnerships with SIDS, the Government should therefore commit to making multi-year funded programmes the norm.
Government response. The government partly agrees, stating it currently has several multi-year programmes for SIDS and aims to strengthen them during the Spending Review, but does not commit to making them the norm, noting that multi-year programmes are always subject to financial …
19
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
We commend the UK’s active support for SIDS’ collective action and international advocacy. However, SIDS’ inter-regional co-operation remains underdeveloped and under-resourced.
Government response. The government partly agrees, responding by detailing its financial support to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) over several years, including £471,000 in 2023-24, and is currently arranging the next round of support to aid SIDS' collective action.
20
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
The Government should consider providing a small amount of direct funding annually to the Alliance of Small Island States Secretariat to support its work of amplifying SIDS’ collective voice in international fora. The 4th SIDS Conference in May presents the ideal forum at which to announce this. (Paragraph 61) Gender
Government response. The government states it has already provided financial support to the AOSIS Secretariat for several years, including £471,000 in 2023-24, and is currently negotiating the next round of support, though no announcement was made at the 4th SIDS Conference due …
21
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
Given the disproportionate impact of SIDS’ environmental and economic challenges on women and girls, it was disappointing to see no explicit mention of gender in the UK SIDS Strategy.
Government response. The government agrees with the disproportionate impact on women and girls, stating it prioritises a gender-responsive approach to SIDS programmes, commits 80% of bilateral aid to gender equality by 2030, and is updating Blue Planet Fund criteria to strengthen gender …
22
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
In its approach to SIDS, the FCDO should ensure that the gendered impacts of SIDS’ environmental and developmental challenges are identified and addressed, and that UK support for SIDS is designed and implemented in a way that considers the impact of any interventions on women and girls. It should: (Paragraph …
Government response. The government accepts the recommendation, affirming its commitment to the 80% gender focus target for bilateral aid by 2030, detailing existing support for gender-disaggregated data collection in SIDS, and confirming that the Blue Planet Fund's investment criteria are being refreshed …
23
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Deferred
Given that the UK SIDS Strategy sets out “Ocean and Biodiversity” as an area of focus, it is concerning that the Government has ostensibly deprioritised the ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty by failing to designate the Parliamentary time necessary to pass the prerequisite legislation in this Parliament.
Government response. The government did not address the recommendation regarding the Global Ocean Treaty, instead committing to ensuring 80% of bilateral aid programmes with SIDS focus on gender by 2030, supporting SIDS in collecting gender-disaggregated data, and making gender equality an explicit …
24
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Deferred
The Government should prioritise the laying before Parliament of the primary legislation necessary for ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty before the next election. (Paragraph 75) Wider Climate Leadership
Government response. The government states the recommendation for ratification before the next election is 'no longer relevant/overtaken,' but reaffirms its commitment to ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and notes that work is ongoing on the necessary implementation measures.
25
Conclusion
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
This Committee is concerned that the UK Government’s domestic policies are making it difficult for the UK to be seen as a serious partner to SIDS—the countries likely to be hit hardest by a failure of the international community to meet the agreed target to limit global warming to 1.5 …
Government response. The government agrees with the importance of climate action, detailing its commitment to increasing domestic climate ambition through targets like delivering clean power by 2030 and reducing emissions by 81% by 2035, arguing these efforts enhance its climate leadership.
26
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK Small Island Dev…
Accepted
This Committee urges the Government to implement the next steps on domestic opportunities for climate leadership outlined in the Climate Change Committee’s January 2024 Briefing Note. (Paragraph 80) The UK Small Island Developing States Strategy 45
Government response. The government accepts the recommendation to implement the Climate Change Committee's advice, stating it will deliver an updated plan with full policy detail for net zero by 2037 and provide further details to the UN by February and lay them …