“WE must ensure a shift towards a greener and more sustainable future that benefits everyone especially the vulnerable,” said Consumer Council of Fiji (CCF) chief executive officer Seema Shandil.
In an interview with this newspaper during yesterday’s launch of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day celebration at Albert Park, Ms Shandil said the celebrations theme: “A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles” is not just about protecting the environment, but also about creating economic opportunities, social justice and ensuring that no one is left behind.
“To achieve this, it needs the collective effort and shared responsibility of different stakeholders, which is individuals, communities, business and Government,” Ms Shandil said.
“We can’t do it alone we have to get together share the responsibility so that we can slowly transit to a more sustainable future.”
She said balancing environmental sustainability with economic and social justice is essential for building an equitable and a resilient future.
Ms Shandil also called on the public to act on moving towards a sustainable future highlighting that there are a lot of environmental concerns for small countries like Fiji.
“Fiji has been affected by a lot of catastrophic climate impacts, so there’s a lot that we need to do and we have to start now, even small changes will contribute to what we want to achieve in the future.”
She said Fijians have to be more innovative in areas like protecting the environment.
“Now there is a lot of talks going on about civic pride, how do we dispose our waste, how do we reduce waste, how do we take sustainable business approaches in providing eco-friendly products.
“We have to get together to make sure that whatever we produce and consume do not affect the environment.
“So, as consumers we have to demand for products that are sustainable, good for the environment and that do not damage the environment.”
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated MARCH 15, 2025.
