Glasgow/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative, which he said will benefit small island developing states cope with the effects of climate change and prove beneficial for both life and livelihood.
In an event to launch IRIS, along with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison, Prime Minister Modi also announced that ISRO will develop a special data window, that will help the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) monitor oncoming cyclones, help with coastline monitoring, coral reef monitoring, through satellite link.
He said that the launch of IRIS signals new hope and purpose, for helping the most vulnerable nations.
“The last few decades have proven that no one is safe from climate change. But the greatest danger is faced by the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), for them it is a question of survival as the climate disasters cause massive upheaval in their life and economy,” he said.
He said the climate upheavals even make tourists apprehensive of coming to the SIDS countries, though tourism is their economic mainstay.
He said the SIDS have a close connect with nature and know how to adapt to climate changes, but are having to bear the brunt of nature’s fury caused by greedy and wanton exploitation of nature.
The PM stressed that the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and IRIS are not just infrastructure initiatives but a collective responsibility toward humanity. "It is a way to pay for our shared exploitation of nature," he said.
The PM said CDRI was not the outcome of some seminar, but has evolved out of several decades of thought and experience.
India, realizing the danger faced by SIDS, has evolved special mechanisms for cooperation with the Pacific Island states and the CARICOM nations, he said.
“We have trained them in solar technology, and have contributed to infrastructure there,” he added.
He then announced that ISRO would develop a special data window to help the SIDS for monitoring coastlines, coral reefs, and cyclones, among others.
He said both the CDRI and SIDS have helped to develop IRIS, which he said was a good example of co-creation and co-benefits.
Through IRIS, the SIDS countries will be able to more easily mobilise technology, finance, and relevant knowledge.
“With the boost in quality infrastructure in small island states it will prove beneficial to both life and livelihood,” he added.
"I have said earlier too that the world sees these small island states as less populated places, but I see them as having great potential, as large ocean states."
"In the way pearls that come from the ocean add to the beauty of a necklace, similarly these SIDS that are surrounded by the oceans enhance the beauty of the earth," he added.
He pledged India’s full cooperation in the new endeavour, and that CDRI will work with other partner countries as well as the UN for its success.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet, said:
"PM @narendramodi launched ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ at #COP26 today."
"IRIS aims at achieving sustainable development through a systematic approach to resilient, sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in Small Island Developing States."
"Anchored on ‘co-creation’ and ‘complementarity’, IRIS has been co-curated by SIDS and @cdri_world."
"Co-hosted by Australia and UK, the IRIS launch event saw over 100 attendees. Leaders of SIDS, including Fiji, Jamaica and Mauritius also participated."
