BY LORETTA B MANELE

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECMD) mandated law is vey important to progress government’s ambitions says the Ministry’s newly appointed Permanent Secretary, David Hiba Hiriasia.

He discussed this during a interview with local media on Friday, November 14, 2025.

When asked about how he felt stepping into his new position, Hiriasia expressed that he his happy to be back at the Ministry after almost a year.

With his new post, he looks forward to look at ways the ministry can work with stakeholders to improve MECDM’s mandated law.

Hiriasia said whether it’s a development or conservation or climate change, the mandated law of the Ministry is very important to progress ambitions of the government.

“Because even if we talk about development, you also need the safeguards. So, that’s how the Environment Ministry should function,” he said.

Hiriasia also voiced that there are gaps in the legislation, however some work is already in place for progression by the legislation.

“I understand that there is already work that has been done, especially on climate change and also the amendments to the Environmental Act, that hopefully should come in place and then help the Ministry to play a critical role in ensuring that there are safeguard measures in place,” he said.

Hiriasia, a who is a Meteorologist and Climate Scientist pointed out that personally, he feels that they should also look at strengthening environmental laws that are under the Ministry and link it to other relevant legislations from other ministries.

He added that capacity within ministries should also be considered.

“And then the capacity within the ministries. For me, it will be a priority to ensure that we also have the capacity to enforce the current legislations that we have,” he said.

Photo: Supplied

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