Pacific Islands Energy Policy and Plan (2002)

This document represents a regional consensus, affirmed at the 2002 Regional Energy Meeting in Cook Islands via the Rarotonga Declaration.

The Pacific Islands Energy Policy and Plan has been coordinated by the Committee of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) - Energy Working Group, comprising Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Power Association (PPA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) University of the South Pacific (USP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Vision - Available, reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy for sustainable development for all Pacific islanders.

Introduction - Energy has a vital role in achieving sustainable development in the Pacific region. It is a fundamental input to most economic and social activity and a prerequisite for development in other sectors such as education, health, and communications. Sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the directions of investment, the orientation of technological change, and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations. It is recognised that women are important stakeholders in the energy sector and their participation is vital to achieve sustainable development. Responding to energy issues within the context of sustainable development involves many complex and interdependent factors addressed by this policy statement.