Earth Day 2026 Is a Reminder That Accountability Must Guide Fiji’s Environmental Decisions

Marking Earth Day 2026 under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” Pacific Recycling Foundation is calling for stronger accountability in how environmental decisions are made in Fiji, particularly at a time when the country is exploring new waste and energy solutions.

PRF Founder, Amitesh Deo, said the global theme emphasises accelerating the transition to clean energy, promoting community-scale climate solutions, and increasing accountability for environmental damage – priorities that PRF said are already reflected in the everyday realities of Fiji’s recycling sector.

“For us, this theme is not new. This is the work that has been happening quietly for years – grassroots recyclers and Collection Pillars of Recycling recovering materials and protecting the environment with very little support,” said Deo.

Deo highlighted that recycling remains one of the most immediate and practical climate solutions available to Fiji yet continues to receive limited investment compared to large-scale infrastructure discussions.

On Earth Day, PRF is placing particular emphasis on the theme’s call for accountability for environmental damage, noting that this must apply not only to past actions, but also to decisions currently being considered.

Deo confirmed that PRF will be submitting its second formal submission to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change today, regarding the proposed waste-to-energy project in Vuda, raising serious concerns around the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

“Accountability is not something we talk about after a project is implemented,” Deo said.
“It is something that must guide decisions before commitments are made.”

Deo cautioned that as Fiji looks toward waste-to-energy and other large-scale interventions, there is a responsibility to ensure that potential environmental, social and health impacts are fully understood, openly discussed, and not underestimated.

“If we are serious about ‘Our Power,’ then we must recognise where that power already exists,” Deo said.

“It exists in communities, grassroots recyclers and in informal collectors, and in systems that prioritise recovery over disposal.”

On Earth Day 2026, PRF is urging stakeholders across government, private sector, and development partners to ensure that climate action in Fiji remains holistic, inclusive, and accountable.

“We all want solutions,” Deo said.

“But solutions must be responsible. They must be honest about their impacts, and they must not come at the cost of the very environment they are meant to protect.”