Minister Tabuya pushes for stronger legal role in climate action

Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya has called on lawyers to take a more active role in shaping environmental laws to address climate change challenges.

Speaking at a legal workshop at Yatu I Lau Studio 6 in Suva today, Ms Tabuya said stronger legal involvement was needed to protect communities increasingly affected by climate impacts.

Addressing representatives from GIZ, members of the judiciary, legal professionals, government officials and university law students, she said lawyers play a critical role in shaping laws through court arguments and advocacy.

She urged more practitioners to enter the environmental law space as Fiji faces rising threats such as coastal erosion, displacement and pollution.

Ms Tabuya said many communities were already experiencing the effects of climate change, citing coastline loss in her maritime village and the relocation of vulnerable communities in flood-prone and coastal areas.

She said environmental issues were no longer just ecological concerns but had become human survival issues, affecting livelihoods, identity and food security, particularly for coastal and river-dependent communities.

The Minister also highlighted ongoing challenges such as waste management, illegal dumping and controversial development proposals, noting that legal expertise was needed to balance development with community protection.

She said recent amendments to the Environmental Management Act had strengthened enforcement powers, increased penalties and improved compliance measures, allowing authorities to act more proactively against environmental harm.

However, she said laws alone were not enough without proper enforcement, timely judicial action and stronger advocacy from legal professionals.

Ms Tabuya encouraged lawyers to engage in community-based legal work, including pro bono advocacy, to ensure vulnerable communities have a voice in environmental decision-making.

She said the two-day workshop aimed to build capacity among legal practitioners and inspire new ideas to shape Fiji’s environmental laws and policies.

The Minister urged stakeholders to treat environmental crime seriously, warning that delays in justice could lead to irreversible damage to ecosystems and communities.