Without a doubt, one of the biggest issues facing Small Island Developing States (and the rest of the world for that matter), is where we get the energy to switch on the lights.
Due to their obvious remoteness, fuel is extremely expensive, which means that island economies are constantly held to ransom by fluctuating prices. This lack of certainty makes investment difficult and is a real holdback.
The head of the United Nations Environment Program, Achim Steiner, put it well when he quoted the President of Palau in saying that "The environment is our economy" - particularly in the islands. He also explained the significant barrier presented to sustainable economic development in that energy costs in small islands is often 200-400% higher than in the United States.
In places like Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea (where we have done some development work), less than 30% of households have access to electricity.
Alongside energy security is of course, the inevitable discussion around climate change. There is now essentially a consensus of acceptance and small islands - the least equipped to deal with it - are already bearing the brunt of the problems.
