Report on Climate-Smart Ocean Planning and the Sustainable Development Goals in Small Island Developing States: A Case Study of Dominica

This report analyzes the integration of climate change considerations into Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) within the Commonwealth of Dominica, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). It assesses the alignment of Dominica’s approach with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying barriers and pathways to implementation. The findings are based on a qualitative analysis of national policies, Dominica’s Coastal Master and Marine Spatial Plan (CMSP), and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders.

Introduction: The Imperative for Climate-Smart MSP in Achieving the 2030 Agenda

The escalating climate crisis presents a significant threat to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For SIDS, which are disproportionately vulnerable to climate impacts like sea-level rise and extreme weather, this challenge is particularly acute. Integrating climate action into ocean governance is essential for building resilience and ensuring progress across multiple SDGs.

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has emerged as a critical tool for advancing SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by managing ocean uses to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives. A “climate-smart” approach to MSP is necessary to directly address SDG 13 (Climate Action), by incorporating both adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study examines Dominica’s efforts to develop a climate-smart CMSP, providing a SIDS perspective on the challenges of translating policy into action and advancing the SDGs in a context of high vulnerability and limited resources.

Analysis of Dominica’s Coastal Master and Marine Spatial Plan (CMSP)

Methodology and Integration of Climate Risk

Dominica’s CMSP integrates climate change considerations through a risk assessment mapping (RAM) process. This methodology identifies coastal “hotspots” vulnerable to climate impacts, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 13 by building resilience and adaptive capacity. The RAM considers:

• Human-related activities and pressures.
• The state of marine ecosystems and species.
• Climate change impacts on ecosystems, based on IPCC scenarios.

By assessing risks to key ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs, fish populations) and economic sectors, the CMSP framework provides a foundation for evidence-based decision-making that aligns with SDG 14.c (implementing international law for ocean conservation) and SDG 11.b (implementing integrated policies for disaster risk reduction).

Policy Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals

An analysis of Dominica’s climate-relevant policies reveals five guiding themes that are reflected in the CMSP and connect to the broader 2030 Agenda.

1. Resilience: The CMSP’s focus on restoring marine environments and developing climate-resilient infrastructure directly supports SDG 13.1 (strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards), SDG 9.a (facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries), and SDG 14.2 (sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems).
2. Adaptation and Mitigation: The plan prioritizes adaptation measures, such as protecting coastal infrastructure and critical habitats, which is crucial for SIDS. This aligns with SDG 13.1. While mitigation is less emphasized, goals for transitioning to renewable energy and protecting carbon sinks (marine reserves) contribute to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13.2 (integrate climate change measures into national policies).
3. Sustainable Development: The CMSP is explicitly linked to the SDGs, framing its actions within the context of Blue Economy development. This approach seeks to advance SDG 14.7 (increase economic benefits to SIDS from the sustainable use of marine resources) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through sustainable tourism and fisheries.
4. Governance: The plan incorporates principles of collaborative management, scientific information sharing, and integrated planning (e.g., Island Systems Management). This reflects a commitment to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by promoting effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through enhanced policy coherence and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Barriers to Implementation and SDG Achievement

Despite a robust policy framework, Dominica faces significant barriers that impede the implementation of its CMSP and hinder progress toward the SDGs. These challenges are common across many SIDS.

Institutional and Governance Challenges

• Legislative and Policy Gaps: Delays in formalizing and implementing key legislation, including the CMSP itself, create an implementation gap. This undermines the effectiveness of governance structures, hindering the achievement of SDG 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions).
• Lack of an Operational Coordinating Body: The failure to establish the National Ocean Governance Committee (NOGC) has stalled progress, preventing the coordinated action necessary for integrated planning and compromising the multi-stakeholder approach central to SDG 17.16 and SDG 17.17.
• Siloed Approaches: Sectoral policy-making continues to challenge integrated ocean management, creating inefficiencies and working against the holistic vision of the 2030 Agenda.

Resource and Capacity Constraints

• Financial Limitations: Heavy reliance on external, project-based funding without sufficient allocation for long-term implementation and monitoring is a critical barrier. This lack of sustainable financing directly impacts the ability to deliver on ambitious targets within SDG 13 and SDG 14.
• Human Resource Constraints: Understaffed agencies and a “brain drain” of skilled professionals limit the technical capacity required for climate-smart ocean planning, data analysis, and enforcement. This affects the potential to achieve knowledge-based goals like SDG 9.5 (enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities).
• Technological and Data Gaps: Limited access to ocean monitoring infrastructure, restricted data sharing, and a lack of detailed offshore data prevent dynamic and adaptive management. This is a major obstacle to evidence-based policymaking as promoted by SDG 16 and effective management under SDG 14.

Recommendations for Accelerating SDG Progress through Climate-Smart MSP

To overcome these barriers and leverage the CMSP to achieve its national resilience goals and contribute to the SDGs, the following pathways are recommended:

1. Strengthen Governance for SDG 16 and SDG 17: Prioritize the formal establishment and operationalization of the National Ocean Governance Committee (NOGC). This body is essential for coordinating implementation, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring the continuity of the planning cycle. Adopting draft legislation is a prerequisite for building the strong institutional framework required by SDG 16.
2. Invest in Data and Capacity for SDG 9 and SDG 13: Develop a national strategy for coordinated data collection, sharing, and management, leveraging regional platforms. Long-term investment in building local technical skills through training programs is critical to retaining talent and enhancing the capacity for climate modeling and analysis, directly supporting SDG 13.3 (improve education and awareness-raising on climate change).
3. Secure Sustainable Financing for the Goals: Move beyond project-based funding by allocating national budgetary resources for CMSP implementation and seeking long-term financial partnerships, including from climate funds like the Loss and Damage Fund. This aligns with SDG 17.3 (mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries).
4. Adopt Integrated and Dynamic Planning Approaches: Future revisions of the CMSP should incorporate SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives to improve monitoring and evaluation. Exploring tools like “bright spot” analysis and dynamic zoning can enhance adaptability and identify synergistic opportunities that advance multiple goals simultaneously, such as protecting ecosystems (SDG 14) while supporting livelihoods in fisheries and tourism (SDG 8).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is the central theme of the article. It directly discusses climate change (CC) as a major challenge for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Dominica, focusing on adaptation, mitigation, resilience, and the integration of climate considerations into Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article is fundamentally about ocean planning. It details the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, such as ocean acidification and coral bleaching, and discusses the sustainable management of marine resources, fisheries, and the creation of marine reserves through the Coastal Master and Marine Spatial Plan (CMSP).
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article connects ocean health and climate resilience to Dominica’s economy. It highlights the importance of the “Blue Economy,” the fisheries and tourism sectors, and the severe economic losses (226% of GDP) caused by climate-related disasters like Hurricane Maria.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The need for climate-resilient infrastructure is a key adaptation measure discussed. The CMSP proposes projects for a “climate-resilient transportation system” and “resilient fisheries infrastructure, such as boat storage facilities.”
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article mentions climate mitigation efforts, specifically noting Dominica’s “goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2030, mainly through exploiting its geothermal energy resources.”
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article emphasizes the role of partnerships and governance. It mentions the World Bank-funded Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP), reliance on external funding, the need for stakeholder collaboration, and the importance of establishing coordinating bodies like the National Ocean Governance Committee (NOGC).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The article is framed around Dominica’s vulnerability as a SIDS to “rising sea levels and intensified extreme weather events” and its ambition to become “the world’s first climate-resilient nation by 2030.” The CMSP’s focus on adaptation measures directly supports this target.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The core of the study is analyzing how Dominica integrates climate change into its MSP. The article states, “CC is an integral part of Dominica’s CMSP,” which uses a “risk assessment mapping (RAM)” to identify vulnerable hotspots.
   • Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in… small island developing States. The article identifies “human and financial resource constraints,” “limited technical skills,” and the “‘Brain Drain’” as major barriers, highlighting the critical need for capacity building.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems… including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration. The article discusses the CMSP’s measures for “restoring, conserving and sustainably managing the coastal and marine environment,” including “replanting Dominica’s littoral forest” and protecting against “coral bleaching.”
   • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification. This is explicitly mentioned as a climate impact considered in the CMSP, with the article noting a “very high risk for the Caribbean spiny lobster due to ocean acidification.”
   • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas. The article mentions mitigation efforts that include the “creation of additional marine reserves.”
   • Target 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States… from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries… and tourism. The article’s focus on developing a “Blue Economy” for Dominica, a SIDS, directly aligns with this target, emphasizing the economic importance of the fisheries and tourism sectors.
   • Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology… particularly for small island developing States. The article identifies a major barrier as “Limited technological infrastructure, capacity and resources [that] impede access to relevant data,” and notes the “lack of offshore data” for detailed zoning.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article states that Dominica has set a “goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2030, mainly through exploiting its geothermal energy resources.”
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The article describes proposed projects within the CMSP aimed at creating “climate-resilient infrastructure,” including a “climate-resilient transportation system” and “resilient fisheries infrastructure.”
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.16 & 17.17: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships… Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes the MSP process as part of the “Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP), a World Bank-funded initiative.” It also discusses the challenges and importance of coordinating among various stakeholders and the need to establish the “cross-sectoral NOGC” (National Ocean Governance Committee).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 13.1 (Strengthen resilience):
   • Economic loss from disasters: The article provides a clear metric of past impact: “economic losses… estimated at 1.37 billion USD or 226% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)” after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Reductions in this figure for future events would indicate increased resilience.
2. For Target 13.2 (Integrate CC into policies):
   • Existence and implementation of national plans: The development and formal adoption of the “Dominica Coastal Master and Marine Spatial Plan (CMSP)” and the “National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS)” serve as primary indicators. The article notes the CMSP “had not yet been formally adopted or implemented,” indicating a lack of progress.
3. For Target 14.2 (Protect marine ecosystems):
   • Area of restored habitats: Actions like “replanting Dominica’s littoral forest” can be measured by area (e.g., hectares).
   • Ecosystem health metrics: The article mentions “coral bleaching and algae accumulation,” which can be monitored to assess ecosystem health.
4. For Target 14.5 (Conserve marine areas):
   • Proportion of marine areas protected: The “creation of additional marine reserves” can be measured by the percentage of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is designated as protected.
5. For Target 14.7 (Economic benefits for SIDS):
   • Contribution of marine sectors to GDP: The article provides a baseline: “Tourism is the largest contributor to the economy, accounting for 12.2% of the GDP in 2019.” Tracking this percentage for both tourism and fisheries would measure progress.
6. For Target 7.2 (Increase renewable energy):
   • Share of renewable energy in the energy mix: Progress can be measured against the stated “goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2030.”
7. For Target 17.16/17.17 (Partnerships):
   • Operational status of governance bodies: The establishment and functioning of the “National Ocean Governance Committee (NOGC)” is a key indicator of coordinated governance. The article notes that in 2023, “the NOGC was not yet established.”
   • Amount of international financial support: The article mentions Dominica’s dependence on “external funding from organisations, development banks and governments,” making the amount of secured funding a relevant indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com