Palau Gears Up for Earth Day 2025
By: Eustoria Marie Borja
AIMELIIK, Palau (Dec. 5) — With Earth Day 2025 just months away, Palau’s Earth Day committee is rallying for action to protect the environment. Meeting at the National Landfill, the group addressed a growing concern: the landfill, opened in 2021 and expected to last 25 years, is already 30% full. Insufficient waste segregation is accelerating its use, underscoring the need for immediate solutions
The site visit launched the committee’s meeting, emphasizing the urgency of this year’s theme, “Investing in Our Community: Safeguarding Our Investments for a Cleaner Future” (Kaukledem el Kirel a Ungil Omengereomel el mo Klungiolel a Ungil Klukuk er Kid). The landfill tour aimed to inspire committee members from diverse sectors to push for broader waste mitigation efforts.
Representatives from the Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB), National Solid Waste Management Office (SWM), Koror State Government (KSG), Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement (DCLE), Palau Conservation Society (PCS), Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), Climate Change Office, Friends of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (FPNMS), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE), Palau Community College Cooperative Research and Extension (PCC-CRE), and Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) participated in the discussions.
The committee’s plans for Earth Day activities are beginning to take shape, with tree planting, battery drives, and cleanups scheduled to start in January 2025. While no specific events are finalized, the group aims to streamline all Earth Day activities across the country. Groups not directly involved with the committee are encouraged to share their plans with EQPB, which serves as the secretariat, to ensure a cohesive and impactful Earth Day celebration.
“Bode Kaukledem” (Call for Collective Action), committee members expressed enthusiasm for involving the entire Palauan community in preserving the island’s natural beauty. “We want everyone to feel part of this movement,” a committee member shared. “Together, we can make a big difference. This is about all of us working together for our Lukel a Klengar.”
With only five months until April, the committee’s focus is clear: inspire collective action to safeguard Palau’s environment. Updates on Earth Day activities and opportunities to get involved will be shared early next year. Together, Palau can rise to the challenge and ensure a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.