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The constraints to development faced by PICs are well known and have been discussed in numerous studies for several decades. These include small, highly dispersed land areas and populations; distances far from world markets; narrow resource bases and primary production options, and vulnerability to natural disasters such as tropical cyclones and droughts, the last two to being especially problematic for atoll countries. In the smallest, most resource-poor PICs, a sustainable future with an improved quality of life for a growing population will be difficult to achieve.

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.

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 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.

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 60 species of indigenous vascular plants. The century of interior mining has resulted in the drainage of large quantities of silt and soil onto the reef. That has greatly reduced the productivity and diversity of reef life from an earlier era. Sewage is dumped into the ocean just beyond the reef causing further environmental problems and many septic tanks place ground water at risk of contamination.

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.

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 regulations for water and air pollution have been adopted and despite the dense population, environmental quality is generally good though waste management is a problem with some 6500 tonnes of urban waste generated annually. There is a sewer system on Koror but the sewage is dumped beyond the reef without treatment.

As is the norm for atolls, the soil is low in fertility and only a narrow range of food plants can be supported. The sea is the primary source of local food. The climate is tropical to equatorial. Tuvalu has had tropical cyclones to cause serious damage but their passage is not common though storm surges, winds and heavy rain can be damaging to the low lying islands even if a cyclone does not actually go through Tuvalu. Rainfall averages 3500 mm per year with April - November lower than the rest of the year. Droughts do occur and maintaining a fresh water supply on densely populated Funafuti is increasingly a problem. The primary source is rainwater but in recent years a 65,000 1/d desalinator is also in use. Some pumping from wells is possible but water is brackish and wells can easily be over pumped and cause an incursion of salt water.

This report is the outcome of a series of studies conducted under the framework of the Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project (PIREP) – a climate change mitigation partnership of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) and Pacific Islands Countries (PICs).