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Pacific islands are extremely vulnerable to climate change. Pacific island culture, traditions, economy and environment will be affected by the effects of climate change, marking an urgent call for partnerships and collaboration to increase the resilience of communities to adapt to these changes.

As part of the monitoring and evaluation process for the implementation of the Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy, the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) convened a meeting for senior waste management representatives of Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu at SPREP, Apia, Samoa on the 5th, 6th & 7th of November 2007. A number of JICA representatives were also in attendance but of particular note was the participation of Professor Sakurai from Okinawa University, a world expert on waste management. Professor Sakurai provided assistance in the delivery of presentation and educated many of the participants on issues relating to waste management.

At the regional level, coordination of the implementation of the Pacific Plan is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. This is consistent with the 2004 decision by Leaders that the primary functions of the Secretariat are to provide policy advice, coordmation and assistance in implementing their decisions. The Secretariat has therefore been restructured to more effectively undertake these responsibilities. Political oversight and guidance to the Secretariat is provided by a Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC), chaired by the Forum Chair and comprising representatives of all Pacific Island Forum Countries. The Forum Chair (as Chair of the PPAC), will report to Leaders on the implementation of the Plan on a quarterly basis. A small implementation unit (the Pacific Plan Office - PPO), reporting directly to one of the Deputies Secretary General, has been established in the Secretariat to support the PPAC and progress the Plan.

Tokelau is a small, isolated, non-self-governing territory under the administration of New Zealand since 1925. It consists of three low-lying atolls just south of the equator (9 S 173 W), a land area of 12 sq km fragmented into 127 islets and a total lagoon area of 187 sq km. The maximum elevation is 5m above sea- level. Rainfall is heavy but irregular averaging about 280qm per year. Major storms have occurred in 1846, 1914, 1966, 1987 and 1990 with the latter (Cyclone Ofa) the worst in living memory. The land is vulnerable to wave over-wash during storms which contaminates the soil arid freshwater lenses with salt. Increases in frequency and severity of storms have evoked fear of climate change which could make the islands uninhabitable.

The presentation of programmes and budget details starts with a brief introduction to the relevant programme describing its content and focus and stating its goal. A list of staff and positions (filled, vacant and unfunded) falling under each programme is provided to give members an idea of the human resources available to that particular programme and needed for programme delivery to complement the financial resources provided. The programme details are then displayed under each of its component parts that are linked directly to the Strategic Programmes. These include the component Objective. Outputs, Activities planned for 2008 that would contribute to delivering the Outputs, the Verifiable Indicators for the Activities and in the last column, the budget figures. For added transparency, this is broken down into Personnel. Operating and Capital Costs with the likely sources of funding identified. In instances where programme funding is unsecured, its inclusion in the budget estimates, is based on the firm understanding that a programme proposal has already been negotiated with a donor(s) and a positive response received so that there is at least a 50/50 chance of having the funds available for use in 2008. For the total 2008 Work Programme and Budget, 95% of the funding is secured and 5% unsecured.

One of the three pillars for acquiring sustainable development at any national level is the environment – more specifically a healthy environment. It is widely recognized that pollution of the environment is one of the major threats to sustainable development in the Pacific islands and has a direct influence on the quality of people’s lives. It has the potential to cause negative impacts on national development activities, including tourism and trade, food supplies, public health and the environment. The generation and disposal of wastes has direct and indirect linkages to economic development. Waste materials represent wasted money, in terms of the original cost of the materials, the costs of disposal, and also the potential value of the material as a reusable resource.

The SPREP Regional Marine Species Programme Framework 2003-2007 highlights Turtle conservation as one of the priority areas. The Turtle Action Plan is one of the three Action Plans developed for the programme. These Action Plans have been endorsed by SPREP member countries and territories

Samoa entered this period with detailed knowledge of the best lowland and upland ecosystems remaining based on surveys in the 1990s. One of the highest priority lowland sites has been included within a Marine Protected area project, and major upland ones are included in a mediumsized project proposal to the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Secretariat’s proposed work programme and budget (WP&B) for 2008 was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Financial Regulations and expressed in USD. Consistent with the Financial Regulations, the proposed 2008 consolidated work programme and budget is a balanced one and totals $7,736,577 $545,968 or 7.6% higher than the 2007 work programme and budget.