Port-Vila, Vanuatu – Monday 9 June 2025: The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) has successfully hosted an action-packed Environment Week across its main and Kawenu campuses, aligning with the 2025 International Environment Day theme: Stop Plastic Pollution. The week brought together students, staff, local musicians, government partners, the private sector and the wider community to raise awareness and drive collective action for a cleaner and greener Vanuatu.
The week began with a dynamic songwriting workshop led by local musicians, encouraging students to creatively express their commitment to environmental protection. In partnership with the Department of Forestry, students and staff planted trees on both campuses and advocated for greener learning environments.
Throughout the week, students engaged in a variety of activities, including environmental quizzes and pledge-making, to reinforce daily sustainable practices. Wol Ia Nomo from Wan Smol Bag was presented in the NUV auditorium for even more awareness.
On Thursday 5 June, NUV joined forces with local Mamas cooking along the roadside to reduce plastic use. Meals were served in banana leaves, compostable takeaway boxes, and community members were encouraged to bring reusable containers to get their lunches.
“We need more clean options to serve our food. We are well aware that the plastic containers end up broken into pieces in our streets,” said one mama, highlighting the urgency of reducing plastic waste in everyday life.
To mark the transition from Environment Week to World Ocean Day 2025, celebrated on 8 June, students participated in a poster-making workshop facilitated by a local communication expert, based on this year’s ocean action theme: “Catalysing Action for Our Ocean & Climate.”
On Friday 6 June, with the support of Port Vila Municipality, NUV students and staff conducted a cleanup around both campuses. Collected waste was sorted and recycled to ensure maximum environmental impact.
NUV wishes to thank its staff and students who participated, its sponsors and its partners for their support in making NUV Environment Week a success (the Forestry Department, l’Agence Française de Développment, Port Vila Municipality, Wan Smol Bag, Vanuatu Brewing, Green Wave Vanuatu, Alliance Française, RecycleCorp, Organic Paradise, Yumi Up).
NUV and its partners are taking meaningful steps toward a more sustainable and resilient Vanuatu. NUV’s development is aligned with the Vanuatu People’s Plan and the Vanuatu Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan. The education and training programs under NUV are based on the priorities of the country’s National Human Resource Development Plan 2020-2030 (NHRDP).
