(PIREP) Pacific Regional Energy Assessment 2004 : an assessment of the key energy issues, barriers to the development of renewable energy to mitigate climate change, and capacity development needs to removing the barriers : Cook Islands national report

Environment The climate is maritime tropical with a small temperature difference between day and night and modest seasonal changes. Rainfall is about 2000 111111 with two-thirds falling between November and April, strongly affected by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, which can cause rainfall declines of up to 60% in the southern group and increases of 200% or more 111 the north during El Nino conditions. On average, three cyclones occur every two years, usually between November and April. Biodiversity is not high anywhere in the country but the northern atolls are very low in land- based biodiversity. The Government of the Cook Islands (GoCI) has signed various treaties and conventions related to environmental protection, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, with energy use implications.