Cook Islands Transport and Climate Profile 2026

Outline

COOK ISLANDS

TRANSPORT AND CLIMATE PROFILE

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Background

The Cook Islands, an upper-middle-income nation in the Pacific with approximately 14,000 inhabitants in 2024, faces a distinctive challenge in decarbonization. Its transport sector significantly affects the country's overall carbon footprint, accounting for 49,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024—about 44% of total emissions—well above levels in many larger and more diverse economies. Although transport emissions growth has slowed from 4.1% annually before the Paris Agreement to 1.1% since 2015, they remain the primary source of the nation's climate impact. Road transport, which accounts for 86% of transport-related greenhouse gases, makes up 37% of all emissions, underscoring the land-based sector's substantial influence on mobility.

The energy profile of the Cook Islands' transport sector indicates complete dependence on fossil fuels, with oil products representing 100% of consumption in 2023. This reliance has persisted since 2010, and by that year, biofuels and electricity were not used in the energy mix. In 2023, total transport energy consumption was 497 terajoules, with annual growth rate decreasing from 4% per year between 2000-2010 to just 1% per year after 2010. Breakdown by mode shows that the road sector accounts for 61%, followed by domestic navigation at 22% and domestic aviation at 17%. The significant proportions of maritime and aviation energy use reflect the archipelago's geographic reality, where inter-island connectivity is vital for the cohesion of economic and social activities.

The Cook Islands exhibit a high level of motorization. Despite this high vehicle density, the transition to cleaner technologies is in its infancy. The UNEP E-mobility Readiness Index scores the nation at 37 out of 100, hampered significantly by a lack of dedicated policy and targets. While EV imports reached $1 million USD between 2017 and 2024, they accounted for only 2% of total road vehicle imports by 2024, with LDVs (88%) and two-wheelers (12%) accounting for the remainder.

As a small island developing state (SIDS), the Cook Islands is acutely vulnerable to climate-induced natural disasters, particularly storms, which account for 100% of recorded events since 2000. These hazards impose a heavy economic burden, with potential average annual losses to transport infrastructure estimated at $722,500 USD. The vulnerability is concentrated in road infrastructure (57% of losses) and ports (34%), both of which are critical to domestic and international supply chains. Despite these risks, only 34% of current transport policy measures incorporate a climate adaptation or resilience component, suggesting a significant gap between the identified physical risks and the strategic planning required to "climate-proof" vital transport assets.

The existing policy framework consists of several transport-related documents, yet only one is explicitly climate-specific. The nation's 2016 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) lacks quantitative economy-wide or transport-specific GHG reduction targets, and there is currently no long-term strategy (LTS) in place. Current priority measures focus on traditional areas such as transport laws, shipping improvements, and asset management, with emerging interest in EV incentives and maritime safety. However, the NDCs contribute only 7% to the top ten priority measure types, highlighting a disconnect between high-level climate commitments and sectoral policy execution. Bridging this gap will be essential to shift the 52% of mitigation-relevant measures from high-level intent into tangible investment in low-carbon pathways.

Avoid: To reduce the necessity for motorized travel, the government is prioritizing spatial planning and digital integration. The Cook Islands Land Transport Policy 2025 - 2035 emphasizes the development of "mobile essential services," such as banking and healthcare, to bring services directly to communities and minimize travel distances. Furthermore, the policy advocates for nature-based solutions—including vegetation buffers and beautification schemes—to create shaded, walkable environments that discourage short-distance vehicle use. Regulatory measures outlined in the Cook Islands Road Safety Strategy 2020, such as identifying "no parking" areas and assigning dedicated bus and taxi bays, aim to optimize existing road space and reduce congestion-related idling. Additionally, the Cook Islands Land Transport Policy 2025 - 2035 mandates climate impact assessments for all new road upgrades, ensuring that infrastructure development does not inadvertently induce unsustainable travel demand in high-risk coastal areas.

Shift: A core pillar of the national strategy involves a deliberate shift from private vehicle dependency to shared and active mobility. The Cook Islands Land Transport Policy 2025 - 2035 outlines an ambitious expansion of public transport, including the extension of bus services to the Ara Metua and increased frequency for clockwise and anti-clockwise routes. To ensure equity and high ridership, the government is implementing fare subsidy schemes for students, retirees, and persons with disabilities, while also investing in accessible bus fleets featuring low floors and real-time information systems. Shared mobility is further supported through the establishment of e-bike, scooter, and car-sharing platforms in both urban and Pa Enua areas. Concurrently, the Cook Islands National Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021 and the Cook Islands Land Transport Policy 2025 - 2035 focus on constructing safe, connected footpaths and cycleways to foster a culture of active transport across the archipelago.

Improve: The "Improve" strategy focuses on technological leapfrogging and stringent efficiency standards for the remaining vehicle fleet. Under the Cook Islands Land Transport Policy 2025 - 2035, the government is piloting a public sector fleet conversion to electric and hybrid vehicles, with plans to eventually extend these mandates to rental and private fleets. This is supported by the Cook Islands Economic Development Strategy 2030, which proposes targeted tax reforms and revised vehicle fee structures to incentivize the importation of low-emission motorcycles and smaller vehicles. To manage the full lifecycle of these technologies, the government is integrating battery and EV end-of-life management into the Advance Recovery Disposal Fee scheme. In the maritime sector, the Maritime Transport Policy and the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act enforce international standards for waste management and equipment efficiency, ensuring that inter-island shipping remains safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.