Earth’s vast oceans contain 39 small island nations, home to more than 65 million people with vibrant cultures and rich biodiversity. In addition to geographic isolation, small population sizes, and dependence on imports, climate change threatens these island nations' mere existence. Indigenous islands’ national identities and lands—such as Tuvalu, the Maldives, and Comoros—risk being wiped off the face of the Earth. Despite accounting for less than one percent of global emissions, island nations remain the most susceptible to hazards ranging from sea-level rise to tsunamis, storm surges, and coastal erosion.

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On top of climate change, the impacts of COVID-19 have exacerbated the socioeconomic challenges of these nations, making it increasingly difficult for them to address the urgent need to protect their future. This poses legal concerns, as according to international law, if an island is incapable of sustaining human or economic life, it is classified as a rock. Although migration is an option, it is preventable if nations, especially highly developed ones, take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change. Delegates in this committee will collaborate to form disaster risk reduction while also creating sustainable solutions in order to ensure a prosperous, ecologically sound future for all.