COP 31: India–SIDS Partnership for Resilient Coasts and Oceans: Sharing Knowledge, Technology and Solutions

Background and Rationale

Coastal communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face interconnected challenges from sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather, ecosystem degradation and growing pressure on marine resources. These risks affect settlements, freshwater supplies, critical infrastructure, tourism, fisheries and livelihoods. Marine litter, abandoned fishing gear and unsustainable fishing practices further threaten marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods. Addressing them requires reliable risk information, effective early warning, integrated planning, healthy coastal ecosystems and access to finance and technical capacity.

India has developed substantial scientific, technological and institutional capabilities in these areas through its experience of managing diverse mainland and island environments. Its achievements include satellite-based shoreline assessment, operational tsunami and ocean advisory services, integrated flood-warning systems, coastal planning tools, mangrove restoration and deployment of renewable energy solutions to strengthen coastal and climate resilience. These experiences provide a practical basis for cooperation with island countries, with solutions adapted to their ecological conditions, institutions and development priorities.

India’s commitment to island resilience was reinforced at COP26 on 2 November 2021, when Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi launched the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative alongside partner leaders. At the launch, India also announced an ISRO-supported special data window for SIDS to facilitate access to satellite information on cyclones, coastlines and coral reefs.

The proposed roundtable will bring together India’s operational experience and participating countries’ priorities to identify practical opportunities for South–South cooperation. It will combine a concise showcase of Indian achievements with ministerial perspectives and a discussion on implementation, capacity building and project preparation.

India’s Achievements and their Relevance to Island Countries

Coastal risk assessment and satellite-based monitoring. India has established extensive capabilities in remote sensing, geographic information systems and coastal-process modelling. NCCR assessed approximately 6907 km of mainland shoreline for 1990–2018, identifying erosion, accretion and stable stretches. This assessment provides a scientific baseline for identifying vulnerable locations and informing coastal management. ISRO has also developed capabilities for coastal vulnerability assessment, storm-surge inundation modelling and coral-reef monitoring[1].

Operational early warning and ocean information services. India’s Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS has been operational since 2007, integrating real-time seismic and sea-level observations with modelling and communication systems. India also provides storm-surge, high-wave, swell-surge and ocean-state advisories. Operational integrated flood-warning systems in Chennai and Mumbai demonstrate capabilities relevant to densely populated coastal settlements. India’s experience includes community preparedness, with 26 coastal villages in Odisha recognised under the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready programme, as reported in August 2026[2].

Coastal and marine spatial planning. India has initiated marine spatial planning pilots for Puducherry and Lakshadweep under cooperation with Norway. These initiatives offer experience in bringing fisheries, tourism, conservation, infrastructure and other marine uses into a common planning framework. They complement the coastal management and regulatory approaches identified in the proposed technical programme[3].

Nature-based coastal protection and ecosystem restoration. India’s coastal resilience efforts include mangrove conservation and restoration through the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI). A government review reported restoration of 4,536 hectares of mangroves in 2025, providing a concrete example for discussion on implementation, community participation and monitoring. The event will also examine Indian experience in coral-reef and seagrass conservation and restoration, drawing on the technical expertise proposed in the original agenda[4].

Partnerships for resilient island infrastructure. Through CDRI’s IRIS programme, India and international partners are supporting infrastructure resilience in SIDS. Its project portfolio includes multi-hazard warning capabilities in Fiji; geospatial and risk-information initiatives involving Kiribati; health and coastal infrastructure resilience in the Marshall Islands; climate-resilient water supply in Mauritius; and seaport resilience in Seychelles. These provide relevant entry points for the proposed ministerial dialogue.

Solar-powered solutions for coastal communities. India’s achievements in distributed rooftop solar, floating solar, and solar-plus-battery storage, including deployments in Lakshadweep, offer replicable models to enhance energy security while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. These experiences, alongside solar-powered water supply and decentralised microgrids, can support freshwater security, resilient critical infrastructure and climate-resilient coastal livelihoods.

COP31: Advancing Collaborative Action on Coastal Ecosystems

Against this backdrop, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) offers an opportunity to bring together scientific evidence, policy experience and practical solutions for safeguarding mangroves and coastal ecosystems. A joint event co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) would provide a platform to examine these interconnected priorities, identify gaps in knowledge and implementation, and advance collaborative action on blue carbon, ecological monitoring, restoration, pollution prevention, sustainable livelihoods and coastal resilience.

Objectives

• Showcase India’s demonstrated achievements in coastal risk assessment, early warning, coastal planning and ecosystem restoration.
• Enable participating ministers to identify priority needs and share their countries’ own experience and solutions.
• Explore opportunities for solar-powered solutions to strengthen resilient energy access, water security and continuity of critical community services.
• Identify opportunities for technical cooperation, institutional partnerships and capacity building.
• Explore country-led pilot concepts that could progress to joint assessment and project preparation.
• Connect technical priorities with implementation support through relevant institutions and programmes.

[1] PIB: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1914198&reg=48&lang=2  

[2] PIB: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2226879&lang=2&reg=48

[3] PIB: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1702137&lang=2&reg=48

[4] PIB: https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2026/apr/doc202647841001.pdf