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The Pacific islands region faces increasing environmental and socioeconomic pressures exacerbated by global climate change and climate variability.1 Adaptation to climate change and variability (CCV) is ultimately an issue of sustainable development. Even without climate change, Pacific island countries are already severely affected by climate variability and extremes, and they remain extremely vulnerable to future changes in the regional climate that could increase the risks. Countries in the Pacific have clearly recognized the need to (i) reduce their vulnerability to these increasing risks through adaptation, and (ii) strengthen their human and institutional capacities to assess, plan, and respond to these challenges.

The Pacific Islands region faces increasing environmental and socioeconomic pressures exacerbated by global climate change and climate variability.1 Adaptation to climate change and variability (CCV) is ultimately an issue of sustainable development. Even without climate change, Pacific island countries are already severely affected by climate variability and extremes, and they remain extremely vulnerable to future changes in the regional climate that could increase the risks. Countries in the Pacific have clearly recognized the need to (i) reduce their vulnerability to these increasing risks through adaptation,2 and (ii) strengthen their human and institutional capacities to assess, plan, and respond to these challenges.

The Secretariat’s approved work programme and budget (WP&B) for 2006 was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Financial Regulations and is expressed in USD.

In accordance with the “Rules of Procedure of the SPREP Meeting” (Rules 8.1 and 8.2), where a Meeting is hosted by the Secretariat, the Chair shall rotate alphabetically. Where a Meeting is not hosted by the Secretariat, the Chair shall be provided by the host country.

This document outlines the new programme-based approach that has been adopted for the SPREP Secretariat. This new approach to regional delivery is both more innovative and strategic than the project-based approach previously practiced. It provides clear, measurable indicators of the progress and impact of the Secretariat’s work in the region. This is an important element of the Secretariat’s efforts to encourage long-term collaboration with existing and new partners.

This is the Action Plan of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for the period 2005–2009. This plan is owned by the membership of SPREP and their Secretariat. The members of SPREP are: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United States of America, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

SPREP’s direction in the Islands Ecosystems Programme reflects a fundamental commitment to sustaining the livelihoods of Island peoples today and tomorrow by supporting ecosystem management and species conservation. The Programme focuses on developing the capacities of the peoples of the islands to equip them to sustainably manage and conserve the terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems of their islands. The Programme also focuses efforts to protect priority threatened species, and to protect Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) from invasive alien species and living modified organisms (LMOs). SPREP’s core business under this programme is to address the issues of ecosystem conservation, the sustainable management of natural resources and the protection of priority threatened species from the threats of human-induced impacts, invasive species and living modified organisms. These issues require action at the community, national, regional and international levels.

The objectives of the draft Pacific regional position would be to: · Ensure the sustainable develo pment priorities of the Pacific region are fully acknowledged and integrated in the BPOA+10 outcomes;