Expanding green skills for girls and women, particularly in rural communities, was a key focus of discussions today (24:04:2026) between the Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Lynda Tabuya, and representatives from UNICEF, including Associate Director for Gender Equality Lauren Rumble and UNICEF Pacific Deputy Representative Roshni Basu.
The meeting centred on equipping girls and women with practical skills in waste management, recycling, and environmental awareness- green skills that can be directly applied at community level to strengthen climate resilience.
Minister Tabuya emphasised that girls and women must not only be included in climate action but should also take leadership roles. She linked this priority to national efforts to strengthen youth and children’s participation in upcoming Pre-COP engagements, with a strong emphasis on grassroots representation.
The Minister noted that green skills are already being introduced in schools through waste management initiatives, where students are taught to sort waste into plastics, aluminium, compost, and general waste. Building on this, she highlighted the importance of extending similar training to girls in rural communities.
The Minister also raised ongoing challenges in waste management, noting the absence of a national system for villages and settlements outside municipal boundaries, where most of the population lives. As a result, waste is often dumped in rivers, along hillsides, or burned.
“This is where girls trained in green skills can also play a role in strengthening community waste management efforts,” Hon. Tabuya said.
Welcoming the initiative, Dr Rumble noted that “women are built-in climate activists,” underscoring their natural role in driving environmental change at community level.
With Fiji preparing to host Pre-COP in the coming months, the Minister also proposed initiatives to enhance children’s participation, including a drawing competition and the potential appointment of a child ambassador to represent Fiji at Pre-COP or COP31.
Minister Tabuya further updated the delegation on the work of a taskforce reviewing social media age restrictions for those under 16. She further shared plans, in partnership with UNICEF, to convene a children’s forum later this year to gather direct input from young people on the issue.
The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to placing girls and women at the centre of Fiji’s climate response, with a focus on practical skills, leadership, and community-driven solutions.