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Honourable Mentions Honourable Mentions

OUR YOUNG CLIMATE ACTIVISTS

By Samantha Magick to get an advisory opinion on climate change from the Inter-
national Court of Justice (ICJ). Vanuatu wants legal clarifica-
While our leading political regional agency named a series tion over the legal obligations of all countries to prevent and
of climate champions ahead of COP26 in Glasgow this year redress the adverse effects of climate change.
(controversially all of them men), the region’s young climate “The window of opportunity to avoid climate catastrophe
champions are honourable mentions in the Islands Business is rapidly closing,” says Aguon. “Without bold action, climate
2021 Pacific Person of the Year issue. vulnerable countries like Vanuatu will face an onslaught of ad-
We recognise these activists not just for the way they verse impacts from coastal inundation, to loss of freshwater,
represent us with heart and conviction in the international to increasingly severe storms and cyclones. This situation is
arena, but moreso for the work they are doing at home, out untenable, as the nation is already reeling from one Category
of the limelight. 5 cyclone to another.”
Here are just a few young leaders working across our This year, Fiji human rights lawyer Kavita Naidu dem-
region, and throughout the Pacific islands diaspora, to put onstrated what a powerful media performance (during the
young people at the centre of the discussion about how to sometimes fractious Q&A program in Australia) can do. Spe-
slow climate change. cialising in climate justice and women's human rights, Naidu
Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, Republic of Marshall Islands' Climate delivered some well-timed and directed digs at Australia’s
Envoy moves with seeming ease between international ne- climate record from Glasgow.
gotiations and grassroots work with Jo Jikum, (standing for Kushaal Raj is the Acting Manager for Climate Change and
"Jodrikdrik in Jipan Ene Eo Ekutok Maroro"; loosely translated the Ocean Specialist for Fiji’s Ministry of Economy, and is
to "Youth helping the land that is green and lush"). leading development of oceans/climate policy. Formerly an
Jo Jikum mobilises young Marshallese through art and activ- academic with the University of the South Pacific, his advice
ism, transforming “them from passive victims to participants to young people: “Climate ambition without climate action is
in a movement.” Jetnil-Kijiner herself is one of the Pacific’s ineffective. Your passion about climate change should not end
foremost poets, using words to convey the desperation at advocacy, but if you have the capacity, should also diversify
and hope of generations of Pacific Islanders facing climate into assisting the community in curbing climate and oceans
change. issues.
Still only in her early 20s, Brianna Fruen has been doing “This could be done through clean up and community-led
this work since she was in school, where she set up an envi- programmes, pilot projects on innovative climate solutions
ronmental group, becoming 350.org’s youngest coordinator at and advocacy of these issues within communities – this will
11. The Samoan student told the COP26 opening session: “re- also help the drive towards resilience.”
member that in your meeting rooms and drafting, documents Solomon Islander Gladys Habu was also at COP26. Her ef-
are more than just black and white objects … remember than forts outside the assembly hall include helping to make the
in your words you wield the weapons that can save us or sell concepts of “loss and damage” tangible and accessible, and
us out.” calling for the negotiations to be brought closer to the Pacific
“I hope the world leaders will remember the words and frontlines and for promises on climate finance to be met.
faces of Pacific youth this COP. We have the most to lose but Ernest Gibson is another young Fijian who is part of United
also the most to teach about how to treat the planet with Nations Secretary General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate
more respect,” she also told the assembly. Change. His battle to ensure young people’s contributions are
Introducing former US President Barak Obama at COP26, taken seriously, and are not just window-dressing or tokenis-
Sheila Babauta, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands tic: “It's one thing to have ambition, and the other to resource
House of Representatives was an equally effective represen- it, he says. “So, when we talk about funding for youth proj-
tative for the region. ects and activities, we must ensure that the process is flexible
"As the first stewards of the land and ocean, our traditional and accessible to young people."
knowledge can guide the way," Babauta said. She made the Like Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Pacific Islands
link to other geopolitical pressures and ‘development’ issues: Forum has establishedan advisory body, the Climate Lead-
"All together we hold the keys to solving the issues of milita- ers Alliance which aims to coordinate existing Pacific youth
risation, climate change and climate colonialism. We are not climate advocacy efforts and initi atives across the Pacific.
passive victims. I am here to amplify the voices of those who On their past records, its members (and the constituencies
live on the frontlines." they represent) will be working hard to ensure that the road
Babauta says she is committed to using her position as an to limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius by the
elected representative to speak with and for young people on end of this century is paved with more than just good inten-
local and global challenges. tions.
Guam lawyer Julian Aguon and Margaretha Wewerinke-
Singh from Blue Ocean Law are taking a different approach to editor@islandsbusiness.com
meeting the climate crisis, representing Vanuatu as it seeks

Islands Business, December 2021 15