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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.

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.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands presented a National Assessment Report prior to the WSSD, which highlighted a number of critical Sustainable Development issues. These issues were subdivided along the three ‘pillars’ of Sustainable Development: environmental, social and economic concerns. The National Assessment Report drew upon all national sustainability related reviews and similar reports since the early 1990s, particularly the Strategic Development Plan for the Marshall Islands [SDP]. Those issues particularly related to the technical assistance and capacity that SOPAC offers are summarised below:

Environmental Concerns:

• Sustainable development of ocean and coastal marine resources
• Supply and quality of fresh water
• Climate change and sea level rise
• Pollution of coastal waters
• Destruction of coral reefs
• Coastal erosion
• Climatic extremes - hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and droughts

Social Concerns:

• Weak environmental institutional mechanisms
• Lack of coordination among regulatory agencies
• Environmental education and awareness
• Need to maintain traditional knowledge and practices
• Lack of integrated laws, policies, strategies and action plans
• Promotion of appropriate endogenous technologies

Economic Concerns:

• Outer island infrastructure development
• Dependency on foreign economic assistance
• Urbanisation
• Rapid population growth and high population density in urban areas
• Need for human resource development
• Lack of training in scientific and information technology skills
• Rural and urban income disparity
• Land tenure system