The United Nations is celebrating the efforts of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in combating the impacts of climate change at its annual World Environment Day event. The host of this year’s week-long event is Barbados, which is leading a number of SIDS initiatives including its Solar Water Heater Program which has netted the island nation energy savings of more than $135 million.
In total, there are 52 SIDS — home to 62.3 million people. Research shows that by 2100, global warming could lead to a sea-level rise of up to two meters, making many SIDS including the Maldives uninhabitable. To help strengthen the physical infrastructure of such islands, the United Nations Environment Program is tapping its celebrity ambassadors including actor Don Cheadle and supermodel Gisele Bundchen to launch its Message in a Bottle campaign. Sting, of course, sings.
