Severn Cullis-Suzuki
Severn Cullis-Suzuki is a Canadian environmental and social justice activist, writer, and speaker born in 1979.
Severn Cullis-Suzuki is a Canadian environmental activist best known for her 1992 speech at the Rio Earth Summit when she was 12 years old. She is the daughter of environmentalist David Suzuki and has spent her career advocating for intergenerational justice and biodiversity.
Early life and family
Severn Cullis-Suzuki was born in Vancouver in 1979 to David Suzuki and Tara Elizabeth Cullis. As a child, she co-founded the Environmental Children’s Organization, sparking an early commitment to environmental advocacy.
Rio Earth Summit speech
In 1992, at age 12, she addressed the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. Her speech, which includes the famous line “If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!”, became internationally known for its urgent call to protect the environment for future generations.
Career and later work
Cullis-Suzuki has worked as an activist, writer, and speaker, focusing on biodiversity, language revitalization, and reconciliation. She served as executive director of the David Suzuki Foundation from 2021 to 2025 and completed a PhD in Linguistic Anthropology in 2025.
In short
- Delivered famous speech at age 12 at Rio Earth Summit
- Daughter of environmentalist David Suzuki
- Served as executive director of the David Suzuki Foundation 2021–2025
- Focuses on intergenerational justice, biodiversity, and reconciliation
She is a Canadian activist born in Vancouver, and her public work has been closely connected to Canadian environmental issues, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Haida Gwaii in British Columbia.
Quick questions
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Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Cullis-SuzukiSupports: Birth date, nationality, occupation, and family relationship to David Suzuki.
- David Suzuki Foundation — https://davidsuzuki.org/expert/severn-cullis-suzuki/Supports: Her role as activist, her Rio Earth Summit speech at age 12, and service as executive director from 2021 to 2025.
- Severn Cullis-Suzuki — https://www.severncullissuzuki.com/bioSupports: Biography, Rio Earth Summit speech, current focus, education, and residence.
- University of Victoria — https://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/careers/departments/environmental/profiles/cullissuzuki-severn.phpSupports: Her environmental and social justice work, board involvement, and media work.
- The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/11/severn-cullis-suzuki-earth-summit-speech-greta-thunbergSupports: The content and historical significance of her Rio Earth Summit speech.