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SOPAC is mandated to contribute to sustainable development, reduce poverty and enhance resilience for the peoples of the Pacific by supporting the development of natural resources, in particular non-living resources, investigating natural systems and the management of vulnerability through applied environmental geosciences, appropriate technologies, knowledge management, technical and policy advice, human resource development and advocacy of Pacific issues.|SPC's vision for the region is a secure and prosperous Pacific community, whose people are educated and healthy and manage their resources in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way.|SPREP's vision is for people of the Pacific islands better be able to plan, protect, manage and use their environment for sustainable development.

On 5th January 2004, Heta, a Category 5 tropical cyclone, struck Niue and widely devastated its N to NW exposed coastlines from Uluvehi to Alofi.

On 5th January 2004, Heta, a Categofy 5 tropical cyclone, struck Niue and widely devastated its N to NW exposed coastlines from Uluvehi to Alofi.

The policy document provides a framework to guide sustainable management and development of Niue's coast.

A training course on “Improving Sanitation and Wastewater Management for Tonga” is scheduled for 25 – 29 August 2008 in Tonga. Its implementation is a collaborative effort by the Tonga Community Development Trust, Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Coordination Office for the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation – Institute for Water Education (UNESCO- IHE). The donors EU Water Facility, UNDP and GEF are sincerely acknowledged.   This report acts as a background paper on the current status of wastewater and sanitation in Tonga. It was based on an independent review of available literature and stakeholder consultations conducted from 4 – 8 August (refer to annex 1 for agencies/representatives consulted). Tonga does not have a central reticulated wastewater system and thus relies on household-based management. This presents a number of problems when individual households are left to deal with wastewater (from bathrooms, kitchens and toilets).

Flooding imposes significant costs on households and businesses located in the lower Vaisigano catchment area. SOPAC, under the European Development Fund (EDF) project Reducing Vulnerability of Pacific ACP States, has worked with the Government of Samoa to develop the Samoa Flood Management and Action Plan, which identifies actions for government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and communities responsible for flood and floodplain management that can assist in reducing flood risks in Samoa, particularly in the lower Vaisigano catchment area located in Apia, which is subject to frequent flooding.

Access to energy is essential and vital for the economic, social and sustainable development for developing countries. Access to affordable, reliable and appropriate energy services is recognised as a means of wealth creation for women in the rural and remote communities of the Pacific and Caribbean Region. On the other hand, its absence can constrain women from contributing to improving their livelihoods. Linkages have been established between energy and major socioeconomic national and global issues such as poverty and hardship, education, gender disparity, food security, health, environment, economy and security.

The Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop on Rainwater Harvesting took place in Vava'u, Tonga from 12-15 May 2004. Involving community extension workers from the Village Women's Development Programme (VWDP) of the Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT), the training was based on a participatory approach that emphasised 'learning-by-doing'. Using a step-by-step process, workshop participants were introduced to various participatory tools and took part in participatory activities and exercises that they could potentially use during future training on rainwater harvesting in communities.

At the 3rd World Water Forum held in 2003 in Kyoto, Pacific island country ministers, delegations and representatives of civil society, reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Targets of halving by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation and the World Summit for Sustain- able Development (WSSD) Plan of Implementation.

This report serves as to create an overview of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) progress and activities in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The overview is to form part of a submission by the GWP (Global Water Partnership) Secretariat at the forthcoming; "(i) donor meeting to mobilise and seek support for IWRM in February, 2004, and the (ii) CSD conference in New York, March, 2004".