The world is in the midst of a substantial urban transition, but the impact
s of this on the environment and human societies are not fully understood.
Very little attention has been paid to urbanization processes in developing
countries with smaller populations, despite the evident problems associate
d with urbanization. There are both biophysical and social vulnerabilities
associated with urbanization in the South Pacific and these vulnerabilities
affect human security. The biophysical vulnerabilities include the fragile
environments of the island nations, limited land resources, shortages of b
asic resources, and the risks associated with global warming. The ability t
o respond to these problems is constrained by social vulnerabilities, notab
ly weak economies, difficulties associated with land ownership, and institu
tional limitations. There is a need for institutional reform, improved plan
ning, better urban resource management, and greater regional cooperation, i
f Pacific island nations are to respond effectively to rapid urbanization a
nd global change.