Ireland to support Pacific

environmental vulnerability index

Tfie Government of Ireland has pledged to support the ongoing refinement of an environmental vulnerability index (EVI) currently being undertaken by the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission

(Sopac).

Work first started in 1998 to develop a robust operational EVI tool that provides a relatively quick and inexpensive way of characterising the vulnerability of natural systems of a country, province or island.

Small island countries are fast becoming more aware of the vulnerability of their countries with increasing globalisation and increasing natural disasters.

Disadvantages to development and vulnerability can be caused by an interplay of factors such as remoteness, geographical dispersion, natural hazards, a high degree of economic openness, small internal markets, limited natural resources and fragile ecosystems.

These issues have been recognised and increasingly highlighted in international fora during the last decade, as have attempts to measure vulnerability.

The need for a vulnerability index for the environment was first recognized at the Global Summit on Small Island States

held in Barbados in 1994.

There are several benefits of producing such an index.

The most important is that it can attract attention to certain states that are considered ‘more vulnerable’. By summarising vulnerability based on meaningful criteria, it can be used by donors when considering allocation of financial aid and projects.

It will also allow countries to produce a comprehensive assessment of

environmental vulnerability thus identifying areas of concern and approaches to better stewardship of the environment. This is fundamental if sustainable development is to be achieved.

As a regional initiative supported by Pacific Island Forum leaders, over the past two years the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) - with financial support from the New Zealand government - has tried to come to grips with developing an EVI to summarise national circumstances.

In collaboration with several Pacific countries (including Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and more recently Kiribati and Nauru), testing has been carried out with country data clearly highlighting the capability and potential of the EVI to measure environmental vulnerability.

Further testing - both mathematically and with real country data from representative countries from all over the world - is now necessary to produce a completely workable global EVI tool.

With the assistance of the government of Ireland, other international governments and partners, it is expected that a practical and internationally acceptable EVI tool will be developed. ■

Geography has given Pacific economies a disadvantage in globalisation