This report presents the assessment of the Indian Ocean Islands, one of two oceanic assessments conducted by the GIWA. The region covers the Island States of Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles and the vast oceanic expanses between them. The most important transboundary concern is pollution, particularly solid wastes, which end up in the coastal and oceanic environments causing degradation of ecosystems and considerable economic impacts. Policy options to address the root causes of solid waste pollution are presented and their efficiency, equitability and practicality are discussed.

UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO) series provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of the global environment, a review of policy responses and an outlook on the future. This report introduces the scenario approach, a means of illuminating challenges and appropriate responses toward the achievement of certain development pathways based upon current conditions and driving forces.