Selina Leem
Selina Leem speaking at COP21
Born
Selina Neirok Leem

Majuro, Marshall Islands
NationalityMarshallese
EducationRobert Bosch United World College
OccupationActivist • Spoken word performer

Selina Neirok Leem is a climate change activist and spoken word performer from the Marshall Islands. She was the youngest speaker at COP21 and has also spoken at COP26, making a "passionate plea" to world leaders for increased action on addressing climate change.[1] Selina just recently became a TED speaker at the 2021 TED countdown summit.

Early life

Leem was born and raised in Majuro, the capital city of the Marshall Islands.[2] At the age of 16, she moved to Germany to finish high school at the UWC Robert Bosch College.[3] She learned about climate change from stories her grandfather told her, who spoke about the impacts of a rising ocean to their home islands. Her concerns over global warming motivated her studies into the science of climate change in school.[4]

While at UWC, Selina developed into a powerful public speaker. She shared her lived experience, as she talked about the reality of rising sea levels, drought and flooding on communities who have often been underrepresented on the global stage: “It is said that by 2030 my islands and other island nations will disappear under the water. But we refuse to accept this prediction.”[5]

Activism

Leem has raised concerns on permafrost melting, forest fires, and droughts.[6] She advocates for the Marshall Islands and their vulnerability to rising waters due to climate change.[4] Leem has raised the concern that the island nation has "neither the funds nor the expertise" to adapt to the impending impacts, and cites scientist predictions that the country could be gone within 50 years or less.[7]

At age 18, Leem was invited to the COP21 summit by the Marshallese foreign minister Tony deBrum where she gave the closing statement.[8] She was the youngest delegate to speak at COP21.[3] In 2019, she was selected for the first UN Youth Climate Summit in New York.

Leem was also featured in Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary Before the Flood, speaking on behalf of the Marshall Islands.

In 2021, she spoke at COP26 in support of the Marshall Island's government pledge to achieve 100% renewable energy, presenting the opening statement for the World Leaders Summit.[9] Leem emphasized that action like this would allow the government to stop black-outs and “to free up government resources to help the people achieve priorities like health and education.”[10]

Notable works

References

  1. 1 2 "'Small Island Big Song' Spoken Word Performer– SELINA LEEM". Grand Vision Foundation. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Selina Neirok Leem: 'a small island girl with big dreams'". The World Bank. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Selina Neirok Leem Youth climate activist". TED. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 Carne, Gabriella (30 November 2017). "Selina Leem". Santa Clara University. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  5. ↑ "Climate Warrior From a Small Island with a Big Voice". UWC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Green, Matthew; Abnett, Kate (12 December 2020). "U.N. chief urges leaders of every country to declare 'climate emergency'". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Aguon, Mindy (23 November 2019). "We only have 11 years left". Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Mathiesen, Karl (22 August 2017). "Obituary: Tony de Brum, Marshallese climate and anti-nuclear crusader". Climate Change News. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  9. ↑ Palatino, Mong (10 November 2021). "Meet the Pacific Islanders fighting for climate action at COP26". Global Voices. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Our thoughts on COP26 – reflections on the Glasgow Climate Pact". ODI. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "The 33rd Golden Melody Awards Nomination". Golden Melody Awards. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
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