For small island countries like the Cook Islands, no issue merits more attention and action today than climate change! Climate change is the defining human development issue of this generation as it threatens to erode human rights and freedoms to make choices and lead lives the way people and countries value. Commercial agriculture in the Cook Islands has suffered from the effects of droughts. Rainfall in 1997 was 32% below the 1971 – 97 average and for the first three months of 1998, rainfall was 10% below that in the corresponding period in 1997. As a result pawpaw volumes and export sales were lower in 1997. Increased temperature is believed to be responsible for the prolific increase in populations of insects such as mosquitoes which is affecting, even killing domestic pigs on one island in the Northern Group. On Mangaia, Aitutaki, Pukapuka and Mauke, taro growth has been seriously constrained due to lands becoming drier. There are also reports of coconut dieback due to insect infestation, mango fruits falling prematurely, banana trees not bearing fruits, jackfruits rotting before ripe, and custard apples not fruiting for the last three years. On Aitutaki, lands are reported to be drier and vegetables there are not growing as well as on Rarotonga. As a result of heavy rain this year, irrigation systems have not been required so far on Rarotonga which is quite unusual for this time of the year. However, as a result of wetter conditions, some new insect pests have been discovered on taro leaves. The potato white fly which is not a major pest in New Zealand, for example, has become a major concern for the Cook Islands. It has also been observed that the populations of yellow wasps have increased significantly on Pukapuka following the 2005 cyclone. Storm surges and rising sea levels have also affected agriculture in the Cook Islands. During a cyclone in 2005, entire taro plantation areas on Pukapuka were inundated by salt water. It took 3 years before taro could again be reintroduced to the island. Salt spray which is a major threat to agriculture in the outer islands is not such a big problem on Rarotonga where gardens are normally established on higher grounds. Sea level rise, salt spray and sea water intrusion have impacted on agricultural activities especially on the low-lying atolls of the Northern Group. They impede crop growth and further reduce the amount of land available for crop production. Lack of rain likewise reduces agriculture production. As experienced during cyclone “Martin”, cyclone-induced strong winds and wave surges can also cause considerable damage to agriculture farms and crops. Higher volcanic islands of the Southern Group have also experienced problems as a result of climate change. Excessive rain has resulted in the loss of some once productive agriculture lands and the flooding of plantation areas. These areas when dried after the cyclones often become boggy and difficult to cultivate.