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In battling the COVID-19 around the world we see the impacts of this pandemic to our ecosystems. As people are staying home it gives time to our ecosystem to bounce back and recover itsef. But in attempt to to reduce possible transmission, the rise of disposables is on the increase, in countries where fast-food chains and restaurants still remain open, they are switching to entirely disposable packaging and away from re-useale items. But in re-opening our boarders as an increase in disposables we will see littering, marine pollution and will continue to exacerbate damage to our fragile ecosystem. Not only the impacts of the global pandemis, but also the devastation caused by Tropical cyclone Harold on our friends, Solomon Is, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga. But due to restriction of travel it has been diffucult to provide assistance to these countries. However staff from WMPC, JPRISM II and PWP stand ready to support with remote technical advice whenever needed.

In the Cook Islands, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project focuses on coastal zone management on Mangaia Island. The project is helping to ‘climate-proof’ coastal development, and to develop an integrated coastal management policy and plan for Mangaia

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the Pacific region’s major intergovernmental organisation charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources. SPREP works with and on behalf of its 21 member countries and territories to promote cooperation in the Pacific islands region, providing assistance to protect and improve the Pacific environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations.

A policy to guide climate change and disaster management development in the Cook Islands

PACC reports

Energy consumption in Cook Islands is predominantly reliant on imported fossil fuels, which roughly accounts for over 99% of the country’s energy consumption. In 2009, around 12.7 million litres of diesel, 4.2 million litres of petrol, and 9.7 million litres of kerosene were imported into the country. The recorded fuel import bill stood in the vicinity of USD 57.8 million dollars with a current GDP of USD 209.8 million dollars. Petroleum fuels are supplied to Cook Islands by Mobil, Pacific Energy and Total. Triad purchases fuel from Pacific Energy for distribution within the country. Petroleum products are mainly imported from Australia and Singapore via Fiji, using local coastal tankers, to bulk storage in Rarotonga. Diesel fuel for electricity generation accounted for 7.2 million litres in 2009. Most of the kerosene and petrol imported is used for air and land transport respectively. Please click on the country name below to download the profile.

The 15 islands of the Cook Islands have been occupied by its native maori people since the great Pacific migrations in large voyaging canoes or VakaMoana, which took place fromthe Polynesian homeland of Avaiki4, possibly since 500-600AD. The deep and wide waters connecting these islands have always been used as highways and for the resources they contain. Our people developed a distinct Polynesian perspective, language, lifestyle and culture.