Implementing Agenda 21: oceans, coasts and the Barbados outcomes in the Pacific region

Progress has been made in the Pacific region to implement the decisions taken by leaders at the Earth Summit. There has been investment in the environment and in sustainable development initiatives in the Pacific, and island countries have managed to place their concerns and special circumstances clearly on the international agenda. By the very nature of Pacific islands, Agenda 21 and its off-shoot, the Barbados Programme of Action, have influenced ocean and coastal management. However, the extent to which this has changed the fundamental approach to development in islands is less clear. While it may not be possible to determine categorically the state of implementation of Agenda 21 or how far Pacific island countries have gone down the path towards sustainable development, there are some sound indicators of change. This paper examines a number of these indicators of progress to implement Agenda 21 in the Pacific at the national, regional and international levels, and identifies some challenges for the future.