The Fiji National University (FNU) community of students and staff has conducted various initiatives in its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation and resilience.
The projects are aligned to its Sustainability Plan 2021-2026 and highlight sustainability as an overarching theme in the University’s direction and development.
The University conducted its first-ever Sustainability Week Campaign in October to create awareness, build civic pride, create a knowledgeable society, and showcase the importance of Sustainability.
Sustainability Initiatives Committee Chair and Director Capital Projects and Infrastructure (DCPI), Niranjwan Chettiar said as a higher education and the national tertiary institution, FNU was obligated to promote environmental protection, social cohesion, and economical performance through various sustainable practices.
“To this effect, clean-up campaigns were organised in our Central, Western and Northern division campuses to show communities that waste management is important,” he said.
“Humans often fail to realise the level of stress that is posed on our planet Earth by our inconsiderate actions. Having no proper disposable methods in place can lead to ecosystem deterioration which affects the biodiversity of the soil and affects the health and wellbeing of communities.”
“These initiatives create meaningful change in a variety of public spaces, whereby participants can take pride in their hard work and commitment to the contribution of a better society. Living in a clean environment makes life healthier, less stressful, and more pleasant.”
FNU staff in the Central Division conducted a cleanup drive in Suva and collected rubbish that weighed in at about 331KGs.
“Outreach activities as such will discourage others from littering and be a valuable lesson to the general public on the importance of managing our environment. Such efforts are acknowledged
and appreciated and SIC encourages everyone to practice good environmental stewardship,” Chettiar stated.
“We would also like to acknowledge the support and partnership from local authorities and contractors such as Cope Constructions Ltd, Precision Pacific Construction Pte Ltd and Shrine Investments Ltd for taking part in the clean-up campaign. Valuable data regarding the rubbish collected was provided to us by Waste Recyclers (Fiji) Pte Limited.”
Various tree-planting initiatives and sustainability projects were also undertaken by FNU’s Colleges and campuses during its Sustainability Week campaign.