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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.

Tonga 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. Those issues particularly related to the technical assistance and capacity that SOPAC offers are summarised below:

Environmental Concerns:

• Sustainable management of living and non-living coastal and ocean marine resources
• Sustainable management of land resources
• Biodiversity conservation
• Environmental impact of beach-mining
• Water supply and quality
• Waste management and provision of sanitation services
• Climate change and sea level rise
• Vulnerability to natural and environmental disasters

Social Concerns:

• Weak institutional framework
• Need for good governance and accountability
• Lack of inter-departmental coordination
• Lack of environmental education, technical training and public awareness
• Need to strengthen enforcement capabilities of environmental Ministries
• Loss of traditional knowledge and practices
• Urbanisation

Economic Concerns:

• Lack of transport, communication and information services, particularly in the outer islands
• Need to promote small-scale, community-based enterprises
• Renewable energy development
• Human resource development
• Vulnerability to external market shocks
• Population growth and density

The Tonga National Assessment Report was drawn from the collective experience of the government and representatives of civil society organisations in Tonga, as articulated in a Multi-stakeholder Consultation Workshop. The agency responsible for coordinating the preparatory process for the Tonga NAR was the Department of Environment. The NAR drew upon the following documents:

• The Kingdom of Tonga’s 7th Strategic Development Plan (SDP 7), Tongan Government, 2001.
• Tonga National Report to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), 1992.
• State of the Environment of Tonga. Unpublished Department of Environment Report. 2001.

The NAR also drew upon reports from specific sectors, such as energy, water, agriculture, forestry, coastal resources, waste management, and coral reefs.