Port moresby: Small island states are on the front line of the climate crisis, UN-Habitat Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Kazuko Ishigaki, said during a special session titled 'Inclusive Urban Resilience, Blue Economy and Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States' held within the framework of WUF13.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Ishigaki stated that the session is based on the outcomes of the 7th Pacific Urban Forum held two months ago in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. At this forum, various stakeholders, including governments, development partners, communities, and regional organizations, convened to discuss practical solutions aimed at fostering inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development.

The UN-Habitat official highlighted the significant role played by Papua New Guinea's Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Kobbi Bomareo, in leading efforts to address these challenges. Ishigaki reiterated that small island developing states (SIDS) are among the first regions to experience the adverse effects of climate change, making issues such as urban resilience, blue economy, and sustainable tourism especially critical for these nations.