Small island developing states (SIDS) are some of the most climate-vulnerable nations, and as a consequence of climate change, they are beginning to face more intense and frequent natural disasters. As a result, small island nations suffer disproportionately in terms of economic, social, and environmental impacts.
Buildings and other infrastructure losses from natural disasters can result in sudden loss of critical services and the accumulation of a great deal of debris that must be accommodated. Coupled with this, restoring the services provided by this infrastructure comes with significant material needs for reconstruction, which can lead to costly imports, if material cannot be sourced locally. With access to new construction material resources being difficult, the results are often logistical challenges, increasing debts, and delays. With all of these factors working together to increase dependencies on outside nations, there is real need for local sourcing of materials, and repurposing or recycling damaged materials from natural disasters.
To study this phenomenon and work on solutions, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) professor Simron Singh initiated a program called Metabolism of Islands (MoI) that studies the physical basis of island economies. The MoI team researches how much material and energy is locally produced, imported, transformed, used and then discarded on small islands. The MoI aims to support small islands to move toward a circular economy through innovation in material resource use, recovery, and reuse following extreme weather events.
“Leveraging resource use and resource efficiency as an important climate adaptation strategy has high value for small islands,” says Singh. “The main purpose of our research is to track resource use within a small island context, building on the premise that you can’t manage, what you can’t measure”.
Francisco Xavier Félix Martín del Campo is a PhD student from SEED who will be completing research in The Bahamas and Aruba. Del Campo’s research looks at the interactions of economic sectors, such as tourism, and how they are driving the consumption of new resources. He also considers the extent to which these sectors are impacted by extreme weather events. His work considers how nation size and “islandness” influence resource security, and how these societies can move towards more sustainable and resilient modes of production, consumption and infrastructure development.
“Society makes decisions that have consequences and impact the sustainability of island nations,” said del Campo. “If we want the world to move toward prosperity, while combating climate change and other natural resource challenges, it is fundamental to build a stable, efficient, and circular approach to resource use."
Kristen de Kroon, is a master's student working with Singh to identify distribution of material stocks, and their relationships with services, on the small island state of Grenada. Services include education, health, government services, transportation, etc., that can become vulnerable in areas where climate change is causing more extreme weather events. In order to optimally manage disaster planning, knowing how many materials will be lost or can be recycled will help move societies towards a more circular economy.
Despite diverse geographical locations and cultures, SIDS often face similar challenges in relation to climate change, but they also share a willingness to take action and work together to address their collective needs.
Singh’s team have identified that knowledge sharing is a key approach to building capacity among island nations. Three Waterloo graduate students recently presented at the 1st International Conference on Island States/ Island Territories, which was organized as an opportunity for sharing stories of island life, governance and global engagement. The conference was held at the University of Aruba in association with the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
"Going to conferences helps open up networking opportunities not only with people of the same expertise but also outside of your field of research," says de Kroon. "Sharing stories of island states/territories conference helped me gain perspective on how/what my research may contribute too. A lot of presenters were working towards achieving the sustainable development goals; by attending this conference and sharing best practices, avenues of networking were opened to make those goals more achievable."
For Johnella Charity Bradshaw, a master’s student from SEED who is currently working in Antigua and Barbuda, the highlight of the conference was the clear demonstration that in unity there is strength.
“Being able to actively participate on this platform where scholars, government officials, civil society officials, and local citizens can share their stories pertaining to islands was so beneficial, said Bradshaw. “The connections made will facilitate greater sustainable change and an opportunity to learn from our collective experience as islanders.”
Bradshaw's research focuses specifically on identifying key construction materials within the built environment of Antigua and Barbuda. This information is then used to promote a more sustainable and resilient infrastructure in terms of design, spatial planning, and type of materials used. Material recoverability for re-use after an extreme weather event is seen as an important aspect of system resilience.
According to Singh, it has never been more urgent to support small island nations to break out of the systemic impasse that inhibits their full potential and tremendous opportunities that surround them. The research being conducted under MoI has meanwhile stirred increasing interest among island governments and policy makers. Several island nations, including Sint Maarten, Grenada, Aruba and the US Virgin Islands have reached out to partner with Waterloo and the MoI team.
Waterloo graduate students recently presented at the 1st International Conference on Island States/ Island Territories with Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Leona Romeo Marlin: L to R: Francisco Xavier Félix Martín del Campo; Kristen De Kroon; Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Leona Romeo Marlin; Johnella Charity Bradshaw.
