We caught up with Selina Leem who recently participated and presented at the TED Summit Program and COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Selina was the youngest delegate to speak at the climate summit in 2015, attending with Tony deBrum and making the closing statement on behalf of the Marshall Islands. Selina opened the COP26 Heads of State Addresses on November 2.
“Our large ocean nation and the late great Tony deBrum have made an outsized contribution to making the Paris Agreement a reality. Here in Glasgow we expect again for the high ambition coalition to ensure that the world delivers fully on the promise of Paris. In the eye of the climate crisis, which affects every aspect of the Marshallese way of life and livelihoods, we must tackle this alongside other challenges, like unemployment, poverty and health concerns. Education and indigenous knowledge are the first step to addressing these challenges. An example of this is through funded initiatives with Waan Aelõñ in Majel, which uses our traditional canoe designs for developing new forms of sustainable sea transportation.
As a youth of the Marshall Islands, I know firsthand the need for collaboration in building resilient and implementing equitable, inclusive and interconnected climate solutions in small islands. Our government has been spearheading the engagement of youths at every level of decision making. I encourage other countries to sign up for this pledge. If the Marshall Islands achieved its goal for 100% renewable energy, it will mean that our families will stop experiencing power outages on a weekly basis and free up government resources for our people’s most important needs, like health and education.
To achieve that, communities, organizations and institutions that need to build their capacity, we must draw on the wisdom of our Pacific Island leaders and share our successes in return. And we need collaboration between Island communities, donors and project developers to build projects that really reflect the priorities of our communities. It is through this type of collaboration that we can make cities more resilient to climate change, and support all generations of island communities.
As our great champion Tony deBrum used to say the thought of having to give up our islands is repulsive to us. But if we save the Marshall Islands, we will save the world.”