Vanuatu’s diplomatic leadership in championing the connection between the climate crisis, human rights, and environmental protection is both remarkable and historic. Its initiatives have consistently sought to strengthen the international legal framework to serve the ultimate interests of nature and people. Nations around the world have benefited from Vanuatu’s moral clarity, legal vision, and unwavering commitment to planetary justice.
Vanuatu is a Global Leader in Linking Climate, Human Rights, and Environmental Justice
1. Climate Action
Vanuatu’s government has been at the forefront of bold, youth-driven climate diplomacy. It endorsed a groundbreaking initiative led by students from the Emalus Campus of the University of the South Pacific, calling on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to clarify the obligations of states under international law to protect the climate system. Vanuatu took this initiative to the United Nations General Assembly, where it achieved unprecedented consensus support from all member states.
In parallel, the Parliament of Vanuatu declared a national Climate Emergency, demonstrating the seriousness with which the nation regards the climate crisis. Going even further, Vanuatu led the “Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty” initiative—a historic call to end the fossil fuel era and accelerate a just global transition to clean energy.
Vanuatu has also played a leading role in advancing the Polluter Pays principle by advocating for a greenhouse gas emissions levy in the shipping industry. This policy aims to ensure that major polluters finance the transition to sustainable maritime transport.
2. Seabed Mining
Vanuatu is a champion in the global debate on seabed mining, advocating for precautionary principles and the protection of marine biodiversity. Its international stance is recognized for its leadership and its alignment with the long-term interests of Pacific peoples and ecosystems. Vanuatu’s voice continues to shape policy and slow down harmful exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources.
3. Ecocide as an International Crime
Together with Fiji and Samoa, Vanuatu has called for the recognition of ecocide—the mass destruction of ecosystems—as a crime under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The proposal seeks to elevate environmental destruction to the same level of legal condemnation as genocide and war crimes, reinforcing the idea that harming nature is not only a moral outrage but a crime against humanity and the planet.
But Vanuatu is not only an international leader in Climate, it is also in initiatives aim to address ecological breakdown. Vanuatu initiatives are not irrelevant, they actually aims to save the Humanity and the Planet.
Environmental Governance as a Pillar for Economic Development: The Case of Erakor Lagoon
Vanuatu’s leadership in global environmental diplomacy shows what is possible when vision and commitment align— is the time to bring that same resolve to protect our own ecosystems. The Erakor Lagoon, being so close to the authorities could be a good start to demonstrate that we all can do it in Paradise: People, Businesses and Authorities.
The degradation of Erakor Lagoon highlights a critical governance gap in Vanuatu’s environmental management. While the legal and institutional frameworks are in place, the absence of coordinated implementation, enforcement, and accountability renders them ineffective. This is not a problem of policy design, but of governance execution.
The environmental challenges of the lagoon—pollution, untreated wastewater, plastic accumulation—persist not due to lack of awareness, but due to siloed operations across institutions, weak enforcement mechanisms, and underutilization of available resources. The result: declining ecosystem services, community frustration, and economic losses, particularly in the tourism sector.
Following the December 17 earthquake, there is increasing national dialogue around economic resilience and government revenue generation. Environmental governance must be central to this agenda. Preserving the natural and cultural identity of Vanuatu is essential for maintaining its competitive advantage in tourism and community-based development. Some ideas:
Strengthen Environmental Enforcement:
- Increase penalties for non-compliant businesses.
- Mandate the establishment and operation of solid and liquid waste management systems, with regular inspections and licensing tied to environmental performance.
Adopt a “Polluter Pays” Approach:
- Impose levies on imported plastics to fund biodegradable alternatives and local innovation.
- Apply strict penalties for improper disposal of waste into rivers, lagoons, and marine zones.
Promote Inter-Institutional Coordination:
The Waste Water Task force is a multi-agency Environmental Governance Taskforce with a clear mandate for joint action in critical sites such as the Erakor Lagoon.
Improve data sharing, compliance monitoring, and community engagement mechanisms.
Create Green Jobs through Compliance:
- Environmental regulation can drive local employment by creating demand for waste collectors, inspectors, recycling workers, local conservation officers (rangers), and eco-tourism guides.
- Investment in local capacity building will amplify these benefits.
In short, Erakor Lagoon is a test case. Its restoration will not only protect biodiversity and community well-being—it will demonstrate that Vanuatu’s governance systems can evolve to meet the climate and development challenges of the 21st century. As a regional climate leader, Vanuatu must show that economic development and environmental integrity are not in conflict—they are interdependent.
Final notes:
Entities with direct responsibility over the Erakor Lagoon++.
- Ministry of Health – Public Health Department
- Ministry of Health – Shefa Province
- Ministry of Health – Vanuatu Central Hospital
- Ministry of Ocean – Department of Fisheries
- Ministry of Internal Affairs – Department of Urban Planning
- Ministry of Internal Affairs – Shefa Provincial Government
- Ministry of Internal Affairs – Port Vila Municipality
- Ministry of Climate Change – Department of Environment
- Ministry of Lands – Department of Water
- Ministry of Trade – Department of Tourism
- Ministry of Public Works
- Chiefs of Erakor
Entities that could benefit from actively interaction with the Erakor Lagoon
- Ministry of Justice, Community and Youth and Sports
- Ministry of Education and Training
Legal Framework
- Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu
The Constitution mentions the use of natural resources or the environment. It imposes for every person a fundamental duty to him or herself, descendants and to others “to protect the Republic of Vanuatu and to safeguard the national wealth, resources and environment in the interests of the present generation and of future generations”. - Pollution Control Act 2013
The Pollution (Control) Act controls the discharge and emission of terrestrial and marine pollution in Vanuatu. - Waste Management Act 2014, Provides for the protection of the environment by encouraging effective waste services and operations. Establishes specific responsibilities for identifying waste, collecting waste, disposing of waste, planning, and reporting on waste management and managing hazardous waste. Also includes provisions on litter and waste disposal. These responsibilities are shared between the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, municipal and provincial councils, the Ministry of Health and Biosecurity Vanuatu. (…) The Ministry of Health has the responsibility to collect and dispose of all medical waste and on the request of the Director, is to prepare and submit a report relating to any aspect of waste management under its responsibility;
- Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014. The purpose of the Fisheries Act is to a. conserve, manage and develop fisheries in Vanuatu to ensure their long-term sustainable use for the benefit of the people of Vanuatu; and (…)
- Public Health Act. The Public Health Act assigns the responsibility to the Provincial (Municipal) Councils to ensure (enforce) sufficient & safe water for all (sections 42, 43 & 44) and the authority to pass by-laws (section 116). The Minister may also make regulations for the control and maintenance of general environmental health quality in matters such as to prevent soil, water, noise and air pollution, amongst other things (section 113(y)). In addition, section 48 of the Public Health Act provides that “Every person who knowingly and willfully in any way defiles or pollutes any watercourse, stream, lake, pond or reservoir shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding VT 1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
- Water Resources Management Act 2002. s 37(2)(h)(i) – regulations may be made for ‘the control, regulation or prohibition of any matter or thing in connection with the diversion, taking, collection, storage, supply, disposal, or discharge of any wastewater’.
- Vanuatu Building Code 2000. NF HEALTH AND AMENITY. Performance Requirements. NF6 Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage. NF6.6 Resorts and Hospitals: The method, design and construction of the treatment plants and disposal facilities for Resort developments and hospitals shall be certified by an approved engineer and shall include disposal of effluent by means of irrigation onto land where sufficient land is available. NF6.6.1 Performance Standards. Effluent from sewage treatment plants referred to NF6.6 shall conform with the following performance standards: § Five Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) shall not exceed 300mg/l (one monthly measurement annual means not to exceed). § Suspended Solids (SS) shall not exceed 30Mg/l (one monthly measurement annual means not to exceed) § Faecal Coliforms (FC) shall be less than 5,000 MPN/100ml for 95% of the time. (Based on monthly measurements taken over an annual period). NF6.6.2 Prohibitions The following practices shall be prohibited: § Direct discharge of treated effluent to marine waters*.
- Waste Management Act No. 24 of 2014 has come into force on June 26, 2014. The Act deals with all kinds of waste from litter, household refuse and scraps to electronic, trade, industrial, hazardous and ozone depleting waste and persistent organic pollutants. And it lists all sorts of places where it is forbidden to “deposit”, “discharge” or “dump” these wastes. Any person who contravenes a term or condition of a notice so issued is liable to a fine not exceeding VT 100,000 in the case of an individual or VT 200,000 in the case of a body corporate or an individual who commits the offence for a second time. Penalties under other sections of the Act rise to VT 500,000 or imprisonment for 3 months for failing to comply with an order given by those tasked with the enforcement of it while penalties relation to improper handling of waste deemed hazardous may invoke a fine of up to VT 500,000 for individuals, VT 1 million for a body corporate or persons who recommit offences or 3 months imprisonment or both a fine and imprisonment.
* This BUILDING CODE: NF6 Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage. NF6.6 Resorts and Hospitals of the current building code was never enforced during the life of the legislation. The Department of Water from the Ministry of Lands tried to enforce, but the Ministry of Health refused to comply, Chief of Solwota formally wrote several letters to Department of Environment and Ombudsman and had no response.
What will a new version of an revised building code will change on the general practice of non compliance of legislation or the practice of not respond to written letters from communities? The fundamental problem is not about the quantity or quality of the regulations. Its about unwillingness to enforcement. The Rule of Law is not about what is in the paper. It’s about behavior.
But there is also an economic effect. And it not just having or not having revenue to deliver public services to the People. More than the loss of revenue for the government due to lack of enforcement: fees and penalties coming into the budget of Vanuatu, the issue are the immediate and long term cost of poor sanitation, loss of livelihoods, loss of biodiversity, loss of productivity, being sick with E. coli infections (in children can cause various illnesses, ranging from mild diarrhea to serious conditions like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). E. coli can lead to bloody diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia (blood infection), and sepsis. Some children can develop HUS, a kidney and blood problem that can be life-threatening). Having children sick, missing out school and being deprived from a natural play ground swimming in most beautiful swimming pool of Paradise.
These are only some examples of existent sound rules that, if put in practice – with genuine will – could generate significant Revenue for the Government – decreasing the Aid dependency – Improve the Public Health, while preserving the Paradise and its Nature – the most valuable asset of Vanuatu.
++ The authorities mentioned above were invited to identify the pollution hotspots around the Erakor Lagoon (1 and 2) in the Earth Day of 2022, April 22. The Erakor Council of Chiefs and Community, with the precious support of the Vanuatu Police Force, organised a free ride to all public servants and free refreshment for 2 days to build this MAP OF THE POLLUTIONS HOTSPOTS . This was then shared with authorities in order hoping that the legislation and sound environmental regulations for public health legislation.
Legislation and Regulations are sound. The identification of the pollution hotsspots were collectively done.
Why is the legislation and regulations is not enforced? What are the obstacles and impediments? Why is the government not collecting revenue from fees of permits, environmental impact assessment of multiple businesses spilling pollution into the Lagoon? There are millions of Vatu of Revenue for the Government available to be collected. Simply apply the legislation and collect fees and penalties. What’s the issue? There is not enough compliant officers? Need help? Here are some educated, qualified and trained people available.
The Ocean Pacific Ocean starts at the Erakor Lagoon.
The Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan starts with GOAL 1 STOP POLLUTION. It is hard to CLEAN THE LAGOON (GOAL 2) when the pollution is keep leaking from multiple dysfunctional waste water treatment plan due to lack of compliance with the current BUILDING CODE: NF6 Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage. NF6.6 Resorts and Hospitals.
If you arrived at home and had an inundation what would you do? Start mopping the floor of contain any leak before mopping?
It is impossible for the committed community to start restoring the Lagoon with coral replanting, see grass, sea cucumber and oysters – natural base solutions – GOAL 3 – RESTORE THE LAGOON – while pollution is still leaking – now more than ever. The plan was endorsed by the chiefs and few government authorities in like Department of Water and Department of Fisheries in 2022. The Erakor Community and particularly its Youth is committed to SAVE THE ERAKOR LAGOON…
PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO DO THEIR PART…
3 years finis….
SIGN THE PETITION IN SUPPORT THE ERAKOR COMMUNITY TO SAVE THE ERAKOR LAGOON
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