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Recent years have witnessed a broadening of development thinking and greater emphasis on integrated work methods and sustainable development planning. Global conventions and agreements have altered the way development is viewed, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000), the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002), the 3rd World Water Forum (2003), and the upcoming review of the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States (BPOA+10, 2004).

In preparation and response to this broadening development focus, the Pacific island nations and states were called to prepare a series of national review reports assessing in a holistic manner, for the first time, a broad perspective of issues, problems and priorities. Image

Prior to the WSSD, each Pacific Island Country was called upon to create a National Assessment Report, with the aim of summarising in one document all the critical Sustainable Development issues faced by each country. While these documents remain incomplete for some countries, they represent an important audit of current and emerging issues, and provide an invaluable overview for organisations such as SOPAC in planning work implementation and in consultations with countries.

Image The Cook Island’s National Assessment Report is currently unavailable. The Cook Islands’ National Environmental Management Strategy (NEMS) published in 1993, however, is accessible. The Cook Islands’ NEMS identifies the major environmental and sustainable development issues in the Cook Islands. These issues can be subdivided along the three ‘pillars’ of Sustainable Development: environmental, social and economic concerns. Those issues particularly related to the technical assistance and capacity that SOPAC offers are summarised below:

Environmental Concerns:

• Sustainable coastal resource use practices
• Sustainable use of marine resources
• Sustainable use of land resources
• Establishment and management of protected areas
• Water supply and quality
• Waste management
• Use and abuse of hazardous chemicals
• Need to promote non-polluting forms of energy
• Climatic extremes - hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and droughts
• Climate change

Social Concerns:

• Weak national environmental management
• Environmental Impact Assessments must become routine procedure
• Ineffective legal framework for dealing with environmental problems
• Lack of inter-departmental coordination
• Lack of environmental training, education and public awareness
• Maintaining traditional knowledge and practices

Economic Concerns:

• Skill shortage
• Land tenure system
• Sustainable development of pearl industry