Intergrating economic and environmental policies: the case of Pacific island countries

This study explores ways in which environmental considerations can be integrated into economic decisions in order to facilitate planning for sustainable development (SD), with particular emphasis on Pacific Island Countries (PICs).1 Ever since the ‘Earth Summit’ was held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sustainable development has been embraced worldwide as a desirable development goal. At the Earth Summit, world leaders adopted Agenda 21, an agreement consisting of various action programmers covering nearly every aspect of all human activities that impact on the natural environment. Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 deals with integrating environment and development in decision making. Section 8.5, ‘Improving planning and management system’, states.