Posted on April, 14 2026

By WWF-Pacific Staff Past and Present

Some leaders inspire from a distance. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau inspired by walking beside us.

For those of us at WWF Pacific, past and present, Ratu Epeli will always be remembered as more than a former President of Fiji. He was our Earth Hour Ambassador. An advocate and climate champion. A leader who did not just speak about climate change but stepped forward, quite literally, to help us confront it.

In 2012, when we approached him to support Earth Hour, we hoped for his endorsement. Instead, he gave us something far more powerful. He issued a challenge. If organisations committed to meaningful environmental action, he would walk 30 kilometres for climate change. It was said with his trademark humour, but he meant it.

And people responded. Businesses made commitments. Mangroves were planted. Energy use was reduced. Environmental plans were developed. Suddenly, Earth Hour was no longer just about switching off lights but more importantly about switching on responsibility.

Then came the walk.

At 70 years old, under the hot Suva sun, Ratu Epeli walked for six hours past government offices, through the city, alongside staff, supporters and curious onlookers. Some joined for a few kilometres. Some dropped off. The heat was relentless. The pace was steady, but he kept going.

Step after step, kilometre after kilometre. There was no grandstanding. No fuss. Just quiet determination. The kind that spoke louder than any speech. In that moment, he showed what leadership looks like, not above the people, but among them.

But his support for Earth Hour did not end there.

In the years that followed, Ratu Epeli continued to stand with the movement. He lent his voice to national Earth Hour events, reminding Fijians that climate change was not a distant threat but one already affecting our shores. He supported Earth Hour Blue initiatives, including fundraising efforts to assist vulnerable coastal communities, such as those facing relocation due to rising sea levels. He hosted Earth Hour gatherings that brought together government, business and civil society, reinforcing the importance of collective responsibility.

Each time, his message was consistent: climate action belongs to everyone.

He understood the power of visibility. When he spoke, people listened. When he participated, others followed. His presence helped elevate Earth Hour from a symbolic lights-off moment into an ongoing call for environmental stewardship. He helped create space for partnerships, encouraged businesses to take responsibility, and inspired communities to believe that their actions mattered.

That was Ratu Epeli. A high chief with humility. A President with warmth. A leader who made everyone feel seen. He had a way of putting people at ease, often with a joke, always with kindness. And because of that, people gravitated toward him. They listened. They followed. They acted.

Ratu Epeli also carried this same spirit into his role as an HIV/AIDS Ambassador. He lent his voice to awareness, compassion and dignity, helping to break stigma and encourage understanding. In both causes, he stood for people. He understood that leadership is not only about policy, but about presence. About showing up and standing with communities when it matters most.

We also remember the strong support of the late Kanti Lal Punja, whose leadership through the Punjas Group helped mobilise the private sector behind Earth Hour. His contributions strengthened the movement and reinforced the importance of business leadership in addressing climate change. Together, these two men, one a statesman, the other a business leader, stood firmly behind the fight for our planet.

Today, we remember Ratu Epeli not only for the offices he held but for the example he set. He showed us that leadership grounded in humility and action can unite people and inspire meaningful change.

For those of us who had the privilege to work with him, the memory remains vivid. The laughter, the encouragement, the steady walk under the Suva sun. A leader who did not ask others to act without acting himself.

We, the staff of WWF-Pacific, past and present, salute you, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

Thank you for walking with us, standing for our planet and showing us, what leadership looks like.

Moce Mada Climate Champion! May You Rest in Peace.

Ends.