Environment

Snapshot

School children celebrate World Environment Day in Papua New Guinea.

It is widely recognised that poor people tend to be most severely affected when the environment is degraded or their access to natural resources such as water is limited or denied.

Poor people are often most exposed to environmental hazards and least capable of coping when disasters such as drought, floods or cyclones occur.

Since people in developing countries have few options for using limited local resources, poverty can itself contribute to environmental degradation and environmental mismanagement.

Environmental issues in the Pacific

The small island developing states of the Pacific are highly dependent on natural resources and are particularly vulnerable to natural and environmental disaster and variability.

Economic and social recovery from such events as cyclones depends on the resilience of natural ecosystems. The health of ecosystems is therefore particularly significant for sustainable development.

Subsistence-based livelihoods are prevalent in Pacific Island countries and have strong cultural as well as practical significance. In most Pacific countries some aspects of environmental management are the specific responsibility of women and youth. Environmental programmes at the community level therefore must build on traditional practices and methods.

The 2002 Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI)

The JPOI represents the global consensus on sustainable development. The Plan asserts that: "poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development."

The JPOI promotes "the integration of the three components of sustainable development - economic development, social development and environmental protection - as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars."

New Zealand is committed to the JPOI and recognises that sustainable economic development and poverty reduction are only possible if the environment is adequately taken into account.

NZAID priorities

NZAID completed its Environment Policy in 2005/06. The Policy aims to ensure that environmental sustainability is integrated into all of NZAID's work and programmes.

NZAID's primary geographic focus for its environmental programmes is the Pacific region, resulting in the majority of environmental assistance being directed to Pacific Island countries. However, other NZAID bilateral engagements, including our support for community ecotourism and sustainable rural livelihoods in the Pacific, Asia and Latin America, also have strong environmental objectives.

Since 2002, NZAID has been assisting the Pacific region to identify its priorities and develop strategies for managing the impacts of climate change; supporting community-based environmental management, and management of invasive alien species; as well as funding Pacific regional environment programmes via the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission.

NZAID on the ground

Solar electrification of Niuafo'ou

The outer islands of Tonga are home to a significant proportion of Tonga's population. The Government of Tonga sees the provision of improved infrastructure services, including basic electrification facilities, as an important factor in creating a more attractive environment in the outer islands, thus helping to mitigate urban drift to the main island, and overseas.

The Tongan Government asked New Zealand to fund an electrification feasibility study for the Niua islands.

NZAID commissioned a feasibility analysis of various electrification options for the two major islands of the Niuas in 2001-2002 including the financial, economic, social, environmental and institutional aspects of electrification projects in the Niuas.

The analysis concluded that the Niuas favour the use of solar power. As populations are small and scattered, there is a consequent low power demand, and the isolated islands are difficult to access. The study recommended distributed (such as individual household) solar electrification as an appropriate solution for Niuafo'ou, which is the most remote island in Tonga. Final design and construction is underway.

So far the project has been positively evaluated. One of the key indicators is the fact that the concept arose from the island communities' own decision-making processes, and design was undertaken in a locally appropriate, participatory way.

The activity met the local communities' desired outcomes and was implemented according to a locally developed approach. Small committees were set up in each village to operate and manage the solar power scheme.

There is also an education and training component which involved training individuals on Niuafo'ou in the management, operation and maintenance of generating parts, and upskilling of the Energy Planning Unit personnel who supervised the setting up of the project and monitor its progress over the longer term.

return to | NZAID's priorities