COP 26 in Glasgow was abuzz with deals and negotiations, discussions and agreements between world leaders, climate experts, and voices from across the globe. UNDP economist Sarwat Chowdhury joined the Green New Deal panel from Papua New Guinea to discuss what it means for SIDS.

Dr Sarwat Chowdhury

‘’A Green and Blue Recovery, anchored by the Sustainable Development Goals - and Green New Deals - is highlighted by strong linkages between nature and climate action,” says UNDP in Papua New Guinea’s Inclusive Green Economy and Policy team leader, Dr. Sarwat Chowdhury who spoke at COP26 on the challenges of indigenous people and local communities in Small Island Developing States.

Presenting at a COP26 side event organized by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Dr. Chowdhury joined virtually on the developing country perspective of the Green New Deal and a Green Recovery.

In direct reference to Papua New Guinea, Dr Chowdhury drew attention to residents of the Carteret Islands in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, among the first in the world to be relocated due to climate change. Since 2009, the displaced islanders have been moving to Tinputz, on the main island of Bougainville.

Such climate migrants leave their “home” behind - where their kin live, where their ancestors are buried, and where their culture remains. With each new generation, along with their loss of place these people risk losing identity, heritage, and language, in order to survive.

“The issue of climate refugees and internal displacement is faced by the climate-vulnerable people of Small Island Developing States – now, and not in the future,” said Dr. Chowdhury, also highlighting the role of inclusive green and blue economies towards a sustainable recovery from COVID-19 and the dual challenge of climate and nature crises.

Sarwat Chowdhury is an experienced Economist and Policy Advisor in sustainable development, inclusive green economies, climate change, disaster risk reduction and disaster recovery, renewable and sustainable energy, water, forestry, gender, technology, and finance.

Before joining the team at United Nations Development Programme in Papua New Guinea, she managed UNDP’s resilience and environment programme in South Korea. Dr Chowdhury was the co-lead for UNDP’s Partnership for Action on Green Economy programme in 20 countries, with eight donors and five UN agencies. And also led as UNDP Programme Manager and Climate Change Specialist at the Bangladesh and Vietnam country offices.

Dr. Sarwat Chowdhury has worked at various UN agencies in New York, USA, and at the World Bank in Washington DC, plus a range of international non-government organisations, including Greenpeace, Grameen Bank, Save the Children, Bread for the World, and the World Federalist Association across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.