“The State of the Environment Report is Fiji’s national report card on the health of our environment and the evidence that will shape the decisions we make for generations to come.”
This was the message from Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael, as he officially opened the National Inception Workshop for Fiji’s State of the Environment (SoE) Report 2026 in Nasese today (23.07.26).
The workshop brings together representatives from Government ministries, civil society, academia, the private sector, development partners and environmental experts to begin the process of validating the 2020 draft report, identifying data gaps, confirming environmental indicators and strengthening environmental data management.
As part of this work, Fiji will continue contributing environmental information to the Pacific Environment Data Portal, managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), which serves as the regional environmental data platform for Pacific Island countries.
The State of the Environment Report is a statutory requirement under the Environment Management Act 2005 and provides the country’s most comprehensive assessment of the condition of Fiji’s forests, rivers, reefs, biodiversity, air quality, oceans, climate and waste management systems.
The updated report will assess 37 environmental indicators across 21 key parameters using the internationally recognised Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response (DPSIR) framework, ensuring it reflects Fiji’s current environmental realities while supporting national and global commitments.
Dr. Michael stressed that protecting Fiji’s natural resources is fundamental to the nation’s future.
“Protecting our natural assets is not only an environmental responsibility, it is an investment in our economy, our health, our culture and the future of our children.”
He emphasised that the report is a truly national effort, calling on all stakeholders to contribute credible data and expertise to ensure the final report is scientifically robust and nationally owned.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change acknowledges the support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme – SPREP, with funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT), and technical support from NatureFiji-MareqetiViti in delivering this important initiative.
The completed State of the Environment Report 2026 will provide the evidence base needed to guide environmental policies, strengthen legislation and support informed decision-making to protect Fiji’s environment for present and future generations.