Journal Article

Least Developed Countries and Small Island States

Diarra, Cheick Sidi

2008

Overview

The current debate on environmental sustainability is dominated by the challenge of climate change. The holding of the first-ever debate on the subject by the United Nations Security Council in April 2007 and by the largest-ever high-level meeting of United Nations Member States in September 2007 underscores the emergence of climate change as a major concern of the international community. The focus of the debate is not so much whether human activity is a major contributor to climate change. The United Nations classifies 50 countries, representing \"the poorest and weakest segment of the international community\", as Least Developed Countries. Thirty-four of the Least Developed Countries are found in Africa, 15 in Asia and the Pacific, and one -- Haiti -- in Latin America and the Caribbean. Both Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States face other serious environmental challenges not necessarily linked to climate change. The main culprit is poverty.

• Publisher: Copyright Agency Limited (Distributor)
• Subject: Climate change / Developed countries / Developing countries / Floods / Islands / LDCs / Poverty / Sustainable development / Water shortages