The Development Process June 2, 2015
EVI
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forestThe first conceptual Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) appropriate for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was presented by the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) on 4 February 1999. This work was further developed at an Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) Think Tank, 7 – 10 September 1999 in Pacific Harbour, Fiji. Expanding the EVI to other SIDS was facilitated by a meeting of experts convened in Malta 29 November – 3 December 1999 by SOPAC and the Foundation for International Studies (of the University of Malta’s Islands and Small States Institute) with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme.

In a second phase, the EVI was tested in 5 countries, and a workshop to expand application of the EVI to a representative set of countries from around the world was hosted by UNEP in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27 – 29 August 2001. Further work on the EVI resulted in the presentation of the first functional results with the Demonstration EVI.

Designed for all countries

globeWork then continued on refining the index and assembling the necessary data sets, leading to the launching of a preliminary EVI based on 50 indicators at the 12th UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York on 15 April 2004 and a second EVI Think Tank in Suva, Fiji, 4 – 6 October 2004, before the final presentation at the Mauritius International Meeting on 12 January 2005. More than 300 experts contributed to the development of the EVI. While further refinements and improvements will always be necessary, the index is now ready for application at the country level. It is designed for use in all countries, not just small island states.

Support for the EVI

new zealandnorwayirelanditalyUNEP2

  • DONORS: New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Italy and United Nations Environment Program
  • ORGANISATIONS: UNEP, UNEP GRID Arendal, UNEP Islands Web, Islands & Small States Institute at the Foundation for International Studies (University of Malta), International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP)
  • SOPAC MEMBER COUNTRIES: Australia, Cook Is., Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Is., Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Is., Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
  • SOME of our COLLABORATING COUNTRIES: Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Costa Rica, Greece, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal, Philippines, St Lucia, Singapore, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago.