Āniva Clarke
Āniva Clarke is a 17 year old environment and child rights activist from Samoa, now studying abroad in New Zealand. Growing up in Samoa, she was taught that we all have a strong connection to our natural environment and must protect it to stop our islands from disappearing under rising seas. When she was 11, she established a primary school-based environment club, called “Eco-Toa” (Eco-Warrior) which meets weekly to promote environmental awareness, education and activism.
She is a public speaker about children’s rights to a healthy environment. In 2019, she became a youth climate advisor for the Children’s Rights International Network. Since 2022, Āniva has been the Pacific voice on the Children’s Advisory Team for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. In this role, she has helped develop and promote General Comment 26 which is authoritative guidance on what governments must do to uphold children’s environmental rights impacted by the climate crisis.
Āniva also uses her school student leadership position to advocate for bridging the gap to connect people to each other and to our planet.
One action you’d like people to do to help your work
“I would love everyone to make small changes each day to help our environment. Walk instead of driving, shop sustainably, reduce your red meat consumption, turn off lights you aren’t using, and grow a garden. Even these small acts can reduce our individual emissions and make a difference. If everyone made daily changes to their habits, together these would be enormous steps towards saving our planet and our future.”