Irrespective of which part of the world one lives in, the environment now figures highly on most national agendas, be they economic, political or social, and among the many environmental
issues, one dominates. Global climate change hangs over all of us like the sword of Damocles, alarming because of the enormous scale of the phenomenon, our inability to delineate its exact
configuration, and our apparent incapacity to check its course.
Cook Islands holds 551.6
Call Number: 551.699612 NUN [EL],551.6
ISBN/ISSN: 9820400295
The main purpose of the mission is to prepare, in close consultation with national counterparts, an in-depth study of the potential impact of expected climatic changes (primarily sea level and temperature rise) on the natural environment and the socio-economic structure and activities of the host country. This included the identification of response options which may be suitable and available to avoid or mitigate the expected
negative impact of climatic changes.
6 copies
Call Number: 551.69967 PRA [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 9820401062
The freshwater resources of small island states can be classified as either "conventional" or "nonconventional." Conventional resources include rainwater collected from artificial or natural surfaces, groundwater, and surface water. Nonconventional resources include seawater or brackish groundwater desalination, water importation by barge or submarine pipeline, treated wastewater, and substitution (such as the use of coconuts during droughts) (Falkland 1999a).
Kept in vertical file collection|Source: The World's Water 2002-2003. Chapter 5: 113-131
The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are currently heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Renewable energy (RE),
mostly hydro, is estimated to contribute less than 10 percent of each PICs commercial energy use and the
region is characterized by scattered and fragmented efforts to promote RE technologies that are based on
unreliable and unsubstantiated data on RE resource potentials. The Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project
(PIREP) will facilitate the promotion within the PICs of the widespread implementation and ultimately,
With financial assistance from the Government of Denmark, the South Pacific Regional Environment
Programme (SPREP) convened this meeting in order to provide a forum where government officials, scientists and other technical experts from the region could interact with individuals working at the international level in climate change research, assessments, negotiations and institutional and financial support.
Kept in vertical file collection|E-copy of full text is available in "FL" field
Call Number: 551.699
The Federated States of Micronesia includes the most geographically and culturally diverse part of the greater Micronesian region. The nation is comprised of four states Yap, Chuuk,
Pohnpei, and Kosrae lying along the equator in geographic sequence from west to east. The nation has a total population of about 106,000. Each state has considerable autonomy
within the federation and has devised its own strategy for development. An overall, integrated development vision for the federation is provided by the national government.
Kept in vertical file collection
If nothing is done as a matter of urgency, Kiribati like other small island states and low lying coastal areas and other ecosystems will continue to suffer in silence the
ongoing and increasingly unbearable adverse impacts of climate change and sea level rise.
As a result of previous studies carried out through the support of UNEP to the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) Regional Seas programme in the Pacific, a number
of island States have been perceived as being under immediate threat of major environmental change should greenhouse-forced climatic warming and consequent sea level rise occur.
A report produced for the Association of South Pacific Environmental Institutions (ASPEI) to the government of Kiribati and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme|2 copies|Also available online
Samoa is party to a number of international and regional treaties and conventions, including several with energy implications, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. Environmental issues related to energy use include air pollution from incineration of rubbish and cooking in outside kitchens. About 70% of Samoa's population and infrastructure are located in the environmentally vulnerable coastal zone. Only four of the coastline is resilient to coastal hazards.
The Environment can be considered tropical marine. Atolls are especially vulnerable to environmental damage. The water supply is easily damaged by pollutants. Land biodiversity is low. The primary dangers to the environment are tropical storms, oil spills and waste disposal from the settlements. Direct hits by cyclones are not common though near passages have caused serious damage due to high waves.
Available online|This report is based on data gathered by a PIREP team consisting of Tomas Tafia and Herbert Wade
Call Number: 333.794159615 WAD [EL]
Tonga has a small open economy with squash, coconuts and vanilla the main export crops that make up two thirds of total exports. A high proportion of food is imported, mainly from New Zealand. Remittances are important to the economy, as is tourism. Private sector development is emphasized in its Strategic Development Plan and there is a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. Fisheries and tourism are considered as having the most potential for further economic growth.
Environment The Solomon Islands is part to various treaties and conventions related to environmental protection, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. A communication to UNFCCC, including greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change, is expected to be submitted during 2004.
Available online|This report is based on data gathered by a PIREP team consisting of John Korinihone, Morgan Wairiu, John Vos and Peter Johnston
Call Number: 333.79415953 JOH (EL)
PNG has two distinct economies: i) a modem, cash economy dominated by mining, timber, gas and oil. and agricultural expoits (coffee, cocoa, tea. oil palm and copra): and ii) the traditional subsistence economy and semi-subsistence fanning, with most villages producing little or no surplus for trading. Economic growth has varied considerably but averaged less than 3% annually in real terms since independence in 1975. with per capita income less in 2002 than at Independence. The government expects real growth to average 2.1% from 2003-2008.
Palau lias an equatorial, marine environment. No cyclones have been recorded though near passages are not unusual when high waves can be a problem. Palau has a strong program for preserving the environment, particularly that of the major tourist attractions including the Rock Islands and the reefs where some of the best diving in the world is found. Marine biodiversity is high and land biodiversity moderate. Strict USA
Environmental issues have a high priority. The people of Nine have taken positive action to maintain the environment for future generations. The low population density has allowed large areas of the island's interior to remain as natural forests and this natural state has become a tourist attraction along with the exotic coral formations, caves and other natural attractions of the island. In general water quality and air quality are very good. Periods of drought occur that can cause loss of crops and hardship for residents.
The climate is equatorial marine in nature. There are 110 cyclones though rainfall is cyclic and periodic droughts are a serious problem with one year having a recorded rainfall of only 280 nun. The land biodiversity is limited with only
The Republic of the Marshall Islands consists of two groups of atolls and islands: Ralik in the west and Ratak to the east, within a rectangle extending 1150 km north-south and 1300 km east- west. about 3200 kilometers from Honolulu and Tokyo. Twenty-two of 29 atolls, and four of the five small raised coral islands are inhabited. The islands are typically several km long and rarely over 200 meters in width.
Atmosphere and Climate Physical Climate Cook Islands consists of data on local knowledge on climate variability, energy in Cook Islands and Review of mainstreaming of climate change into national plans and policies in Cook Islands
The rational for this Policy Brief is to make clear the vital benefits of integrating
biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management by taking the Ecosystemsbased
Adaptation approach along with the Green Economy Initiative to achieve
equitable multiple win-win objectives to ensure the continued well-being of human
society in the future.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 20 p.
The combined pressures of climate change and development will not only aggravate existing challenges to the conservation of biodiversity in the Pacific, but also introduce new difficulties. There are a wide range of historical, current and planned studies that examine specific aspects of the relationship between climate change, conservation and development in the Pacific.