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The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are currently heavily dependent oil fossil fuels. Environmental concerns at global, regional and local levels, past and recent price hikes in the price of oil, among others, have been drivers behind a regional wide interest in renewable energy technologies. Unfortunately, various technical, capacity, information, financial and policy-related barriers inhibit the more widespread application of renewable energy technologies. In order to identify these baniers and ultimately to realize the considerable renewable energy potential, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and fifteen (15) Pacific Island Countries (PICs) launched a technical assistance project, called the Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project (PIREP), with had as the main outcome the formulation and preparation of a regional approach in the Pacific region on removing baniers to the development and commercialization of renewable energy systems.

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.

Environment The climate is maritime tropical with a small temperature difference between day and night and modest seasonal changes. Rainfall is about 2000 111111 with two-thirds falling between November and April, strongly affected by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, which can cause rainfall declines of up to 60% in the southern group and increases of 200% or more 111 the north during El Nino conditions. On average, three cyclones occur every two years, usually between November and April. Biodiversity is not high anywhere in the country but the northern atolls are very low in land- based biodiversity. The Government of the Cook Islands (GoCI) has signed various treaties and conventions related to environmental protection, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, with energy use implications.

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.

Environment The Solomon Islands is part to various treaties and conventions related to environmental protection, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. A communication to UNFCCC, including greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change, is expected to be submitted during 2004.