About one fifth of all politically independent countries are small island developing states. For these countries, sustainable development is not a matter of choice, it is imperative.Highly vulnerable due to their size and isolation, small states have had to pursue development paths that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. They also face particularly stark impacts from climate change. This book details experiences and lessons from small island developing states in their efforts to balance environment and development needs, and getting these to work in harmony. Above all the message of this book is that this process still has some way to go, but we have learned valuable lessons that will help to support integrated and participatory planning for sustainable development in the future. In five chapters the expert contributors discuss: * existing national sustainable development strategies * Papua New Guinea's experience in implementing sustainable development * the significance of ocean and marine resource management * renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation technologies * the threat of climate change This book seeks to initiate a debate on how to support a new wave of action for sustainable development.
About the Author: David Barrett is an environmental professional specialising in energy for over 13 years, an occasional guest presenter at national, regional and international forums, and a part-time lecturer. Professor Lino Briguglio is the director of the Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta and head of the university's Economics Department. Saki Hirano works in the Division for Sustainable Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). Professor Kanayathu Koshy is Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji, and Foundation Director of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development. Dr Padma Narsey Lal is the Sustainable Development Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), which serves the independent small island states of the Pacific. Dr Albert Nita held a PhD in Environmental Sustainability and Resource Management. He was a lecturer in environmental science and geography at the University of Papua New Guinea and worked as a consultant to UNDESA on Sustainable Development. Dr Leonard Nurse is the former Director, Coastal Zone Management Unit, Ministry of the Environment, Barbados. He is currently a Senior Lecturer, Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, UWI Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, where he teaches coastal resources management, and coordinates the MSc in climate change. Janet Strachan advises on sustainable development at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She co-ordinated the Commonwealth Secretariat's strategies for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the 2005 Small Island Developing States Summit in Mauritius, and the development of its work on climate change. Constance Vigilance works at the Commonwealth Secretariat as the Economic Adviser responsible for Small States. She holds a Masters in International Affairs in Economic Policy Management from Columbia University, New York and has worked as an economist for several years. Poh Poh Wong is an Associate Professor at the Department of Geography, National University of Singapore. He has been a reviewer, lead author and co-ordinating lead author in the second, third and fourth IPCC assessments respectively.