“Let’s use this award to uplift our young people who are contributing to change, to tell them that we see them.” – Ms Brianna Fruean, former SPREP Youth Ambassador.
The opportunity to commemorate a young Pacific island environment champion has presented itself with a new youth category introduced in the second Pacific Islands Environment Leadership Awards (PIELA) now open for nominations.
The award for excellence in youth leadership in environmental sustainability and conservation category will recognise our young Pacific islanders working to protect and care for our environment.
The PIELA is now open for nominations with the awardees to be announced during a special event at the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in April next year in New Caledonia.
“Our young people told us loud and clear this year at the inaugural Pacific Resilience Meeting in May – ‘nothing for us, without us’, and we respect this,” said Mr Kosi Latu, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“Many of our Pacific youth play a valuable role in shaping and caring for our environment and we are proud to be able to recognise and acknowledge their contributions. We look forward to the many nominations we know will be forthcoming.”
Nominations for the excellence in youth leadership in environmental sustainability and conservation category may include individuals ages 15 – 29. Further, the youth category may also include individuals, youth groups, and youth non-governmental organisations.
Overall there are six PIELA award categories spanning excellence in environmental sustainability and conservation in the areas of national leadership, community leadership, media innovation and youth leadership. There is also the Champion of the Pacific Environment Award as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award in Pacific Environmental Leadership.
All of these are now open for nominations until 30 November, 2019.
“We’re lucky to have some amazing young people in the Pacific today, youth who do great work, but maybe aren’t recognised the way they deserve. Let’s use this award to uplift our young people who are contributing to change, to tell them that we see them,” said Ms Brianna Fruean, a former SPREP Youth Ambassador.
Ms Fruean was the youngest recipient of the Commonwealth Youth Award, specifically the Environmental Protection Award and is also a member of the 350 Pacific Climate Warriors who were most recently recognised with the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award.
“Nominate the young people in your community who you think are making a positive change for our environment!”
The PIELA are the only Pacific region-wide environment awards and was established by SPREP in 2013. The awards promote and celebrate outstanding contributions of individuals, communities, non-governmental organisations, private enterprises and others in achieving an environmentally sustainable and resilient Pacific.
The special PIELA ceremony will be held during the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas hosted by New Caledonia from 20 – 24 April, 2020.
For further information please email Ms Juney Ward, the Biodiversity Officer of SPREP at [email protected]
For more on the Awards please click here and to submit your nomination form click here.
For more on the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas a partnership between New Caledonia, SPREP and the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation, please visit: https://www.pacificnatureconference.com/