Aniva Clarke
Aniva Clarke is a Samoan-born environmental activist and one of 12 global youth advisors on the inaugural Children's Advisory Team, established to facilitate youth consultations on children's rights, the environment and climate change.
The Children's Advisory Team works with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as they prepare official international guidance about how children’s rights are impacted by the climate crisis, with the information helping shape how governments around the world uphold these rights.
Growing up in Samoa, Aniva has been an environmental activist since she was 10 years old. Her passion stems from her own experiences growing up in a climate vulnerable island like Samoa.
“I am so passionate about protecting the environment because growing up in Samoa, the increased amount of floods, cyclones and sea level rise were very apparent. As I have grown up, I have witnessed many natural disasters directly connected to climate change which alarmed me.
Climate change was always talked about as our ‘future’ but in reality for many Pacific Islands, it is our present. ”
This personal experience with the effects of climate change sparked a passion for her to advocate about the climate crisis and encourage other youth across Samoa to do so as well.
Attending Diocesan School as a Year 12 student, Aniva has been supported in her year-long representative role by Women in Climate Change; an initiative of professionals from across the Pacific region. She has also founded an environment club called Eco-Toa, responsible for Samoa's first Zero Waste Lunch.
Through this work, Aniva has aimed to connect with children from across the Pacific to understand their perspectives about climate change and how it is directly impacting their lives.
Finding it extremely important to amplify Pacific youth voices and represent Pacific cultures, values and beliefs, Aniva does all she can to save her homeland.
“Like the Samoan proverb, ‘E lele le toloa ae ma’au lava i le vai’ meaning the Toloa bird will fly away but it will always return to it’s nest,” she said. “Which means that no matter where you go, you will always return home, but if we lose our homes to climate change due to sea level rise, where will we call home?
This proverb is such a beautiful representation of our connection to Samoa and why we must do everything we can to protect it.”