Fiji youth activist, Ernest Gibson, is passionate about improving the health and livelihoods of communities in Fiji and around the Pacific region. Photo: Supplied
A Pacific youth climate activist is challenging regional governments to collaborate more fully with local communities on projects and policies affecting them.
Ernest Gibson is a member of the Pacific Youth Council and the 350 Fiji climate network and he also represents the region on the United Nations Secretary General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
Mr Gibson says too often communities are brought in either at the very start of a project to launch it or at they very end when they have it thrust upon them. He says a truer collaboration is needed to achieve lasting change.
Last month Ernest Gibson was selected to the council of the prestigious Earthshot Prize founded in 2020 by Prince William and featuring the likes of Sir David Attenborough and Cate Blanchett.
Ernest Gibson joins me now, Bula and welcome Ernest - now we'll get to your new Earthshot role in a moment but first tell us about your own work in the Pacific climate change space?
