UNESCO is expanding efforts to protect living heritage across Small Island Developing States (SIDS), arguing that traditional knowledge systems are increasingly essential to disaster preparedness and climate resilience as island nations face rising environmental threats.

From the Pacific to the Caribbean, communities are using inherited practices such as cyclone-resistant housing, traditional medicine, oral storytelling, food preservation and weaving not only to preserve cultural identity, but also to respond to increasingly severe climate pressures including rising sea levels, volcanic activity, floods, cyclones and displacement.

UNESCO said these practices, often passed down through generations, represent both vulnerable cultural assets and practical tools for survival, particularly in remote communities with limited access to formal infrastructure.

Small Island Developing States account for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remain among the most exposed to the consequences of climate change because of their geography, dependence on natural resources and vulnerability to extreme weather events.

In response, UNESCO, with financial support from the Government of Japan, launched a regional project involving communities in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Belize and The Bahamas to strengthen the role of intangible cultural heritage in disaster risk reduction.

The project focused on documenting community practices, supporting transmission of traditional knowledge and connecting local communities with disaster management authorities so cultural knowledge could be integrated into formal resilience planning.

UNESCO said the approach reflects a broader recognition that living heritage can serve as both a safeguard and a response mechanism during emergencies.On Vanuatu’s Tanna Island, for example, community member Warau Frederick described traditional cyclone shelter construction as both cultural preservation and physical protection.

Vanuatu is among the countries most exposed to climate-related disasters in the Pacific, regularly facing cyclones, volcanic eruptions and displacement pressures. Communities there continue to rely on long-established building methods using local materials and inherited techniques to construct shelters capable of withstanding severe weather.

Frederick said he learned the process from his uncle and chose to build a shelter for his family before cyclone season, reflecting how traditional architecture remains embedded in everyday preparedness.Traditional weaving also remains economically significant in the same communities.

Eva Namri, a community member on Tanna Island and a knowledge bearer of traditional weaving, said the practice serves as a financial safety net during periods of hardship.“Weaving brings a great deal of income to my family,” Namri said. “It supports us whenever we face financial difficulties.

The biggest challenge for weaving comes from natural disasters.”UNESCO said such examples show how cultural practices operate simultaneously as economic resilience tools and heritage systems, particularly where formal income opportunities are limited.

Across the Caribbean, communities participating in the project focused on preserving food systems and traditional medicine as part of local resilience strategies.

In Fiji, where flooding and environmental changes increasingly threaten food security, communities relied on traditional fishing, farming methods and collective cooperation to maintain access to food.

In Vanuatu, people facing repeated displacement from volcanic activity and cyclones used early warning knowledge, gardening systems and traditional housing practices to reduce vulnerability.In Tonga, communities displaced by a volcanic eruption and tsunami emphasized the importance of oral traditions and craft practices not only for cultural continuity but also for mental well-being and livelihood recovery after disaster.

UNESCO said the project also created longer-term institutional foundations by identifying community members to serve as Intangible Cultural Heritage ambassadors, responsible for helping sustain and transmit traditional practices beyond the duration of the program.These local ambassadors were tasked with ensuring knowledge transfer, particularly in communities facing relocation or demographic shifts that risk interrupting intergenerational learning.

For many participants, the initiative also had direct economic implications.Feleti Akauola, a community member from Atata in Tonga, said relocation after disaster created uncertainty over how families could rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

He said guidance from Sitiveni Fehoko, a community trainer and intangible cultural heritage ambassador, helped communities think about traditional knowledge not only as preservation, but as a source of income and long-term stability.

“One of the key aspects of the project was that it strengthened me in many ways,” Akauola said. “It explained ways we could earn a living, especially for those of us who had been relocated. This was very encouraging, and it gave me and my wife the idea to start our work and make a living for our family.”UNESCO said this illustrates how cultural safeguarding increasingly intersects with economic adaptation, particularly in island states where environmental shocks can quickly translate into displacement, unemployment and food insecurity

.The agency has argued that disaster planning should not treat heritage solely as something to be protected after crisis, but as an active component of prevention and recovery strategies.As climate risks intensify globally, UNESCO said living heritage offers continuity that extends beyond formal emergency responses, helping communities retain identity while adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

The organization said the project also raised awareness of vulnerable traditions that may otherwise disappear as migration, urbanization and repeated disasters disrupt local transmission systems.Even in cases of displacement, UNESCO found that communities continued practicing oral traditions, crafts and local environmental knowledge, reinforcing the adaptability of living heritage under pressure.

The initiative aligns with broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to climate resilience, cultural sustainability and inclusive development, particularly in regions where environmental vulnerability and cultural preservation are closely linked.UNESCO said future efforts will continue to focus on integrating heritage protection into national disaster reduction policies while supporting local ownership of cultural safeguarding.

For Small Island Developing States, the agency said, resilience increasingly depends not only on infrastructure and funding, but also on whether communities can retain the knowledge systems that have helped them survive for generations.

We are ancient nations, young and proud… We are peaceful nations… but we are not going to hesitate from gaining what we need through solidarity

On Saturday, Chitresh Kapoor and India’s Geopolitical Analyst Vaibhav Singh hosted Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on the podcast Defensive Offense.

Since assuming his role in August 2024, Ambassador Azar has been a key figure in fostering the growing partnership between two of the world’s oldest civilizations—India’s Sanatan Dharma and the Jewish people.

Their dialogue explored the historical and strategic ties between the nations, the evolving threats posed by radical forces like Hamas and Iran, and the potential for deeper collaboration in the decades ahead.

A Shared Civilizational Resilience

The conversation began with a reflection on the deep historical connection between India and Israel, which Ambassador Azar described as a “civilizational connect.” Both nations, he noted, have endured invasions and foreign domination over millennia, yet preserved their cultural identities through resilience and memory.

“Unlike many old civilizations that vanished under the pressure of invasions, we stayed, we prevailed,” Azar remarked, attributing this survival to cultural perseverance rather than continuous sovereignty. For the Jewish people, landless for nearly 2,000 years, this meant developing “techniques of memory,” a theme he promised to elaborate on later but left tantalizingly unexplored in the podcast.

Official diplomatic relations between India and Israel began in 1992, yet their partnership predates this milestone. Azar highlighted how the relationship started “quietly and almost clandestinely,” rooted in mutual security challenges.

“We could help each other,” he said, emphasizing that trust, forged through defense cooperation, became the bedrock of their strategic alliance. This trust has since expanded into agriculture, water management, and high-tech sectors, with India boldly adopting Israeli technologies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

One standout example is the agricultural partnership. Indian companies, such as Jain Irrigation’s acquisition of Israeli firm NaanDanJain, have collaborated with Israel to establish 32 Centers of Excellence across India. These centers provide subsidized seedlings, enhancing crop yields and food security—a testament to how Israeli innovation complements India’s scale.

Azar also pointed to emerging areas like water management, critical given India’s resource challenges, and the potential for joint research and development (R&D) in infrastructure and technology.

Geopolitical Shifts: Trump, Trade, and Trilateral Ties

The discussion took a timely turn toward global economic shifts, particularly with the recent U.S. administration change under President Donald Trump. Azar noted that both India and Israel have navigated relations with the Trump administration effectively, despite new trade tariffs announced just days before the podcast.

With India facing a 17% tariff and Israel 26%—compared to 54% for China and around 50% for Cambodia and Vietnam—both nations stand to gain as production shifts away from heavily taxed countries. “Textiles, the most flexible industry, could move to India within days,” Azar predicted, foreseeing a boost to India’s economy even before a potential U.S.-India trade deal.

This economic realignment underscores a trilateral dynamic among India, Israel, and the U.S. “Our relationship is not only bilateral but bears strategic significance trilaterally,” Azar said, urging a pragmatic rather than confrontational approach to such shifts.

For India, rising as a global economic power, and Israel, a technological innovator, this partnership could reshape supply chains and regional influence.

The Middle East: Hamas, Iran, and a New Alignment

The podcast pivoted to the Middle East, where Israel faces persistent threats from radical groups like Hamas and state actors like Iran.

Singh referenced former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir’s poignant statement: “We can forgive them for killing our children, but we cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill theirs.” He asked whether, decades later, anti-Semitism and hatred toward Israel have diminished.

Azar’s response was sobering: the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, with its brutal atrocities, marked the worst violence against Jews since the Holocaust. Yet, he argued, the nature of the conflict has evolved.

Historically, Israel battled pan-Arab nationalism, a secular movement that sought to eliminate the Jewish state as a colonial outpost—a narrative Azar dismissed, asserting, “Jews belong to Judea.” After five wars, this ideology waned, with Egypt’s peace treaty under Anwar Sadat marking a turning point. However, Sadat’s 1981 assassination by Islamists (Khalid Islamboli) signaled the rise of a new threat: pan-Islamic radicalism. Azar traced this shift through the Arab Spring of 2010, which, despite initial hopes for democracy, empowered radical forces like Iran and its proxies.

Today, he explained, the Middle East hosts two deeper conflicts: the Shiite-Sunni divide and the struggle between radicals and pragmatists.

Israel, he argued, is a “token” exploited by radicals to destabilize the region, with Iran’s ultimate aim not Jerusalem but Mecca and Medina. Within this context, Hamas’s attack and Israel’s retaliation did not unravel ties with Arab states, unlike past conflicts. “No Arab country has disconnected diplomatic relations,” Azar noted, citing the Abraham Accords and joint defense efforts against Iran’s April 2024 ballistic missile barrage as evidence of a new alignment.

Singh pressed further, asking why Saudi Arabia is often implicated in Israel-related conflicts. Azar pointed to the Shiite-Sunni rift, with Iran leveraging propaganda to undermine Saudi pragmatism.

He recalled the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal, which both Israel and Saudi Arabia opposed, as a moment of crystallized common interest. While hesitant to predict Saudi recognition of Israel, he suggested it hinges on mutual benefit and timing. He said it while quoting King Solomon—“Everything has a time under the sun”—there is time for war and time for peace.

Aspirations for Indo-Israel Ties: Beyond Defense

Returning to bilateral ties, Kapoor asked about the future as the 30-year-old relationship approaches its 50th anniversary in 2042. Beyond defense—where Israel supplies equipment like drones and missile systems—Azar envisioned a partnership transcending trade.

“Our relationship is much more than transactions,” he said, rooted in shared heritage, trust, and India’s steadfast support during Israel’s recent war. This solidarity has spurred Israeli interest, with monthly ministerial visits and university collaborations on R&D.

Tourism emerged as another frontier. Kapoor noted that Israelis frequent Goa, Hampi, Manali, and Ladakh while Indian tourists to Israel, mainly from Kerala, visit for religious reasons. 

Azar highlighted Israel’s high GDP per capita ($55,000) and travel habits—20 million tourism packages annually for a 10-million-strong population—suggesting untapped potential as India’s per capita income rises. By 2050, with India projected at $10,000 per capita, he foresaw “hundreds of millions” of Indian travelers exploring the world, including Israel.

Kapoor proposed defense exchange programs for veterans, given both nations’ conflict histories. Azar welcomed the idea, noting Israel’s view of India as a safe haven and the potential for educational and cultural exchanges to deepen people-to-people ties.

Radicalism and Propaganda: A Global Challenge

The conversation darkened as Singh raised Iran’s role in terrorism, from historical invasions of India to modern proxy wars.

Azar praised Israel’s contributions—drip irrigation, desalination, and tech innovation—contrasting them with Iran’s export of ballistic missiles and drones to groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah. He warned of Iran’s infiltration of Western institutions, using media and academia to portray itself as a victim while perpetrating terrorism.

Singh echoed this, citing the Muslim Brotherhood’s growing influence in India via scholars trained abroad. Azar cautioned vigilance, citing the UAE’s successful deradicalization of its education system as a model. He acknowledged Israel’s own Muslim Brotherhood party, noting its varied nature, but stressed the broader threat of radicals exploiting democratic freedoms.

Netanyahu’s Popularity and Leadership

Singh concluded by noting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unrivaled popularity in India, evident in record-breaking TV ratings during his visits. Azar attributed this to shared national pride and leadership.

“We are ancient nations, young and proud… We are peaceful nations… but we are not going to hesitate from gaining what we need through solidarity”, he said, likening Netanyahu and Modi as proactive leaders who defy apology.

The Abraham Accords, he argued, stemmed from Netanyahu’s strategy of strength—economic, military, and diplomatic—shifting regional dynamics.

Addressing the Gaza conflict, Singh questioned the high civilian toll reported after October 7. Azar defended Israel’s actions, arguing Hamas’s tactics—operating from hospitals and disguising terrorists as civilians—forced a tragic response. He challenged inflated casualty figures, suggesting half were terrorists, and compared Israel’s urban warfare record favorably to historical precedents, despite biased narratives from outlets like Al Jazeera and the UN.

A Partnership for the Future

The podcast underscored a relationship built on trust, resilience, and mutual interest, poised to grow as both nations rise. From countering radicalism to fostering innovation and tourism, India and Israel share a vision that transcends geopolitics—a civilizational bond ready to shape the 21st century.