Pacific Islands

New Zealand
Chairman of Pacific Islands Forum
Australia
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
New Zealand
Palau
Pacific Islands Forum Group
Papua New Guinea
Republic of Marshall Islands
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
12TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION
ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,
NEW YORK, 14-20 APRIL 2004: WATER, SANITATION AND HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS
OVERALL REVIEW
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
BY NEW ZEALAND
Mr Chairman
As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, I have the honour to speak on behalf of
the members, namely, Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall
Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New
Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and my own
country, New Zealand .
Mr Chairman
The Pacific is a diverse region encompassing least-developed, developing and
developed countries . Pacific Islands Forum members have vulnerable
environments . Many are faced with difficult social and economic challenges in
the pursuit of sustainable development . The work of the Commission on
Sustainable Development is therefore of crucial interest to all members of our
group.
Pacific countries have supported the reform of the work of the CSD. We
welcome both its revised, two-year-cycle structure, and its concentration on
thematic clusters . 2004 of course is a special year for CSD as well, given that it
has also hosted the first intergovernmental preparatory meeting for the
International Meeting to review the implementation of the Barbados Programme
of Action for Small Island Developing States, to be held in Mauritius later this
year.
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Mr Chairman
The Secretary General's overall review of the implementation of Agenda 21 and
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (E/CN .17/2004/2) presents a mixed
bag of progress, and lack of progress, across areas of key interest to Pacific
Islands Forum members . While many countries in our region have moved
forwards socially and economically, several have fallen behind and have
required increased external assistance .
HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in several countries in the region ; Forum
members welcome the increased international assistance to combat this
pandemic, and the application of Global Fund monies to combat HIV/AIDS in
the Pacific.
Protection and management of our natural resource base is of key significance
in Pacific countries . For many, their terrestrial resource base is narrow, in
contrast to their marine resources . Forum members are taking the initiative to
protect and manage their marine environment, including through the Pacific
Islands Regional Oceans Policy and associated Regional Oceans Forum, held
in Fiji in February .
Action on climate change remains a priority for Forum members . At their
annual meeting in New Zealand last August, Forum leaders noted that it is vital
for urgent action to be undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions . Forum
members are taking concrete steps to mitigate climate change. Forum
members who have targets under the Kyoto Protocol will meet these targets .
To address climate change and protect those most vulnerable to its effects,
further commitments must be made in the future by all major emitters to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions .
Tourism is a major source of revenue for nearly all Pacific Islands Forum
members . Sustainable tourism development remains a priority in the region .
Mr Chairman
I will now turn to the CSD12 and 13 thematic cluster of water, sanitation and
human settlements, which is deeply relevant to Pacific Islands Forum members .
The small island developing states of the Pacific have made some measurable
progress in these thematic areas in the last 12 years . Most effort has been
focussed on the improvement and development of urban reticulated water
supply systems, but at the same time we have seen a dramatic decline in the
capacity of island states to monitor and manage their water resources . This
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comes at a time when climate change and urban growth is putting increasing
pressure on these water resources through both increased abstraction and
pollution .
The economic and social well being of Pacific island countries depends upon
the quality and quantity of their freshwater, their management of water supply
and sanitation systems, and the consequences of inadequate water resources
management, on the coastal and marine environment . The challenges and
constraints of sustainable water resources management in Pacific SIDS have
recently been clearly articulated in the Pacific preparations for the Third World
Water Forum . These challenges and proposed solutions were subsequently
adopted in a global SIDS statement at the Third World Water Forum and can be
categorised into three broad thematic areas :
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Fragile and scarce water resources due to small size, lack of natural
water storage and vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic hazards ;
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Water supply and sanitation service providers constrained by a lack of
human capacity and financial resources ; and
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Complex and interwoven social, cultural and legal governance structures
surrounding resource use .
The global SIDS statement identified 3 priority strategic responses :
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Water resources monitoring and management and improved
collaboration with meteorological forecasting services ;
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Human resources development, water demand management and
improved cost-recovery; and
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Awareness raising, advocacy, and political will at all levels to create a
framework of integrated water resources management.
In response to these issues, the Pacific Islands Countries have developed the
Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management and the Pacific
Wastewater Policy Statement and Framework for action . These strategies have
been incorporated into a World Summit on Sustainable Development Pacific
Type 2 Partnership on Sustainable Water Management, and Forum members
would welcom further involvement in this .
The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), assisted by the
University of the South Pacific, manages the initiative .
Mr Chairman
For the small island developing states of the Pacific sub-region, effective
management of water supply and sanitation systems are vital for achieving
long-term sustainable development . Improvements in water and sanitation will
need to be integrated as priority actions into national sustainable development
strategies if the Pacific SIDS are to maximise the opportunity provided by
CSD12 and 13, and the Water for Life Decade (2005-2015) . These strategies
are currently under development in our region as announced by the Pacific
Islands Forum in our statement to CSD11 .
Mr Chairman
The pattern of human settlements in the Pacific region is rapidly changing with
increasing numbers of people moving to live in towns and cities . This is driven
by education and life choices, employment opportunities, access to services
and increased communications, as well as declining . commodity prices,
continuing high rates of population growth, lack of rural employment, limited
education opportunities in rural areas and the need to financially support the
wider extended family. Land shortages and complexities of ownership,
inadequate planning and legislative frameworks, and limited institutional and
human capacity have hindered Pacific Islands Countries' effective response to
urbanisation . The provision of adequate services to urban populations remains
a challenge in many countries, which will require ongoing support to address .
Thank you, Mr Chairman .