New Technical Brief Explore the Importance of Infrastructure and Implications for Risk and Resilience on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Infrastructure is central to achieving two-thirds of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, underpinning essential services like housing, transport, health, and education. As economies grow, so does the demand for these services, increasing resource use and environmental pressure. This is especially critical for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as hurricanes, flooding, and sea-level rise. Between 1970 and 2020, SIDS lost $153 billion to extreme weather, mostly due to infrastructure damage. With limited resources and heavy reliance on imports of construction materials, these islands face rising costs and supply chain risks. At the same time, the need for climate-resilient infrastructure is increasing, raising the risk of unplanned and unrestrained development. This technical brief highlights the importance for policymakers to consider the full cycle of material use and service delivery from infrastructure —the “stock-flow-service” nexus—to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience for SIDS.