The University of the South Pacific (USP) commended the accomplishment of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) after the group was awarded with the 2025 Right Livelihood Award. PISFCC shares the award with Chamoru lawyer and writer Julian Aguon.
The Right Livelihood Award recognises “change-makers” whose work provides essential support and visibility for critical global issues. PISFCC now stands among previous laureates, including Edward Snowden, Greta Thunberg, and Nobel Peace Prize winners such as Dr. Denis Mukwege.
At the centre of this global recognition is a campaign that began with 27 USP law students in a classroom in Vanuatu. This movement successfully brought the climate crisis to the world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In July, the ICJ delivered a groundbreaking Advisory Opinion, confirming that states have binding legal obligations to prevent climate harm, protect human rights, provide reparations, and safeguard present and future generations. The PISFCC’s powerful advocacy ensured that the frontline realities of the Pacific where cyclones devastate economies and the rising seas displace families shaped this pivotal ruling.
PISFCC Director, Vishal Prasad who was at the forefront of the campaign, dedicated the Right Livelihood Award to the region.
“It is a testament to not just the power of young people but of our communities and nations who are not standing quietly as the climate crisis ravages but are demonstrating real climate leadership,” Mr. Prasad said.
“This award truly belongs to our whole region which continues to stand tall against the climate crisis.”
Head of USP’s School of Law and Social Sciences, Professor Afshin Akhtar-Khavari said that the award is only the beginning of what USP hopes will become a greater structural shift.
“This recognition gives us hope! That the lived reality of the people in the region will be acknowledged and that we might start to see steps taken towards structural change in consumption patterns that lead to climate change,” Professor Akhtar-Khavari reiterated.
“It highlights how at USP our law program fosters the kind of critical conversations that sharpens focus and builds the capacity of our students to champion social justice and focus on meaningful prosperity for Pacific communities.”
Professor Afshin added: “As law academics we aim to help them to learn about values and attitudes like justice, equality and fairness.”
“Our students however made us proud because they led and showed us that the values of the law energised and empowered them to try and make a difference.
“The youth of today want a better future and they will be the ones inspiring us as law academics to think differently about how we combine and integrate values with material progress.”
“We have to encourage them so we can learn about creating better futures.”
USP alumna & President of the PISFCC, Cynthia Houniuhi noted that the award is a testament to the vision of USP’s founders.
“This recognition is proof of the vision that the leaders before us had when they created USP, an institution where Pacific islanders could come together, share their challenges and create solutions together – shaping the very future of our region and contributing to the global community as well,” Honuiuhi added.
“When you understand the humble context in which this initiative started, you will appreciate that this recognition is very huge and it is for those that have worked so hard to enable a space in which such initiative could come out of it.
Ms Houniuhi also reaffirmed the commitment of young Pacific Islanders to Global Climate Leadership.
“It is very important for our young people in the Pacific to look at such initiative and be inspired and understand that although we might come from humble beginnings, we too have an important role to play in Global Climate Leadership,” she said.
“We come from communities at the frontline of the adverse effects of the greatest challenge of our century.”
“This is not the first time the Pacific has shown global climate leadership and as young Pacific islanders we have built on that very foundation.”
The announcement was made in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday. The Swedish Right Livelihood Award Foundation also honoured activists from Myanmar, the Sudanese Emergency Response Rooms network and Taiwan.
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