9 Apr 2018

Aspiring Samoan environmentalist makes history

10:50 am on 9 April 2018

A Samoan university student has made history by being the first Pacific islander to take part in a Young Blake Expedition and has now set his sights on triggering legislative changes to benefit the environment.

17 year old SNU student, Jorim-Paul Philips

Jorim-Paul Philips Photo: supplied / SPREP

Seventeen-year-old Jorim-Paul Philips took part in last month's expedition to the Kermadec Islands, an initiative of the Sir Peter Blake Trust, which encourages youth to participate in scientific, environmental and heritage restoration projects.

Mr Philips said the invite for the trip came after he represented Samoa at the Youth Environment Leadership Forum last year.

He said it has stoked his passion for the environment and he now hopes to use an organisation he founded to effect positive change.

"My organisation, the Envirobassadors, we are currently doing this petition and we hope to submit it to parliament to really help evoke change.

"I am also a videographer so I plan on creating more videos and content on YouTube so that I could influence not only people in the Pacific but all over the world to lead more sustainable lives and to take an interest in the environment."

Jorim-Paul taking part in expedition activities

Jorim-Paul taking part in expedition activities Photo: supplied / SPREP