Lelei LeLaulu, a Samoan development entrepreneur, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. His work spans climate change, tourism, food security, and renewable energy.
LeLaulu has advised global organizations including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the United Nations. He currently chairs the Earth Council Alliance.
Reflecting on his nomination, LeLaulu stated, “I do not know if I am the first Samoan, or Pacific Islander to be nominated, but I can think of several who could have been nominated.”
Born in Samoa with ties to Gataivai and Vaovai, LeLaulu graduated from Auckland University and now resides in Washington, D.C. He expressed a desire to return to his homeland, saying, “I’m always looking for ways of returning to Samoa, the land of my birth.”
In March 2024, LeLaulu played a role in the signing of He Whakaputanga Moana, a treaty recognizing whales as legal persons. He emphasized the cultural significance of whales in Polynesia, noting, “Whales are much more revered in Polynesia and that’s why it’s very significant that the Polynesian leaders themselves adopted this declaration.”
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 105 times to 142 laureates between 1901 and 2024. The list of nominees remains confidential for 50 years, in accordance with the statutes of the Nobel Foundation. The 2025 laureates will be announced in October.
