Brianna Fruean is a 24-year-old climate activist from Samoa. At the age of 11, witnessing the changes in the weather patterns affecting and threatening the livelihoods of her community, she decided to take action, becoming a founding member of 350 Samoa. Brianna is also part of 350.org’s Pacific Climate Warriors – a youth-led grassroots campaign network across the Pacific Islands.
Brianna is a natural leader, and recognising this we invested in supporting her to harness her talent, and become a leading voice of Pacific youth on climate change. We trained and coached her, helped open political and public spaces for her to flourish, and lifted her powerful presence in international media and on social media.
Brianna has been at the heart of growing 350.org’s network with Pacific diaspora communities in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand). She works tirelessly to support young Pacific Islanders, wherever they live, to engage in and amplify powerful campaigns like Rise for Climate, #StopAdani and the Global Climate Strikes.
“350.org has been my family growing up in the climate space. The 350.org team’s willingness and commitment to creating space for climate activists like me is something I don’t take for granted.
As I grow in my journey as an activist and watch my fellow Pacific Climate Warriors evolve in their fight for climate justice, I am glad we have 350.org at our side, modelling what it means to let frontline communities lead.”
In recognition of her incredible activism, Brianna was awarded the 2022 Global Citizen Prize, Oceania. The award celebrates remarkable changemakers who are taking exceptional actions to end extreme poverty and foster social change across the world.