Philippe Cousteau Jr.

{{Short description|American environmental conservationist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox person |name = Philippe Cousteau Jr. |image = Philippe Cousteau, Jr. 2010 (cropped).jpg |caption = Cousteau in 2010 |birth_name = Philippe-Pierre Jacques-Yves Arnault Cousteau Jr. |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|1|20}} |birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |occupation = Environmental advocate, author, speaker, TV host |citizenship = France • United States | |spouse = {{marriage|Ashlan Gorse Cousteau|2013}} |children = 2 |alma_mater = University of St Andrews (M.A.) |parents = Philippe Cousteau<br />Jan Cousteau |relatives = Alexandra Cousteau (sister)<br />Jacques Cousteau (grandfather)<br />Simone Melchior (grandmother)<br />Jean-Michel Cousteau (uncle)<br />Fabien Cousteau (cousin)<br />Céline Cousteau (cousin)<br />Pierre-Antoine Cousteau (great-uncle) |awards = |signature = <!--(filename only)--> |footnotes = }}

'''Philippe-Pierre Jacques-Yves Arnault Cousteau Jr.''' (born January 20, 1980) is a French-American oceanographer and environmental activist, the son of Philippe Cousteau and the grandson of Jacques Cousteau.<ref name=Charleston/><ref>{{cite web|last=Carret|first=Martine|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/environnement/green-people/la-chronique-de-philippe-cousteau-05-11-2015-5107687.php|title=La chronique de... Philippe Cousteau|website=Le Parisien|date=November 5, 2015|language=French |trans-title=The chronicle of ... Philippe Cousteau|access-date=October 24, 2020}}</ref> Cousteau has continued the work of his father and grandfather by educating the public about environmental and conservation issues. In 2017, he received an Emmy nomination for hosting the syndicated science series ''Awesome Planet''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Daytime Emmy Nominations: 'Young and the Restless' Tops List; THR Scores Nom |date=March 22, 2017 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820120849/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/daytime-emmy-awards-nominations-revealed-987885/item/daytime-emmy-noms-2017-outstanding-travel-adventure-program-988087 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |url-status=live |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/daytime-emmy-awards-nominations-revealed-987885/item/daytime-emmy-noms-2017-outstanding-travel-adventure-program-988087}}</ref>

==Early life== Philippe Cousteau Jr. was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1980 to Jan Cousteau, the widow of Philippe Cousteau, who was killed in a plane crash six months before the birth; he is the grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Milestones, Feb. 11, 1980 |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950277,00.html?promoid=googlep|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213072217/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950277,00.html?promoid=googlep |archive-date=February 13, 2011 }}</ref> Cousteau grew up in France and the United States. He attended high school at St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, and later graduated from St. Andrews University in the United Kingdom where he earned a Master of Arts in history.<ref name=OLinterview/>

==Career==

In 2000, he co-founded EarthEcho International (originally called the Philippe Cousteau Foundation in honor of his father) with his mother Jan Cousteau and his sister Alexandra Cousteau. EarthEcho International is based in Washington, D.C., and its mission is to "empower youth to take action that protects and restores our water planet."<ref name=PostMag>Staff, PostMagazine. December 15, 2013. [https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1378910/philippe-cousteau-grandson-legendary-explorer-jacques-taking Philippe Cousteau, grandson of legendary explorer Jacques, on taking up the family business]</ref><ref>[http://www.earthecho.org EarthEcho International Official Website]</ref> His role within EarthEcho involves meeting young people who act for the protection of nature by cleaning up rivers, or organizing conferences, protecting species in the Sea of Cortes, or any positive action in favor of biodiversity, giving them the means to continue their actions.

In order to drive youth engagement, the organization is driven by their Youth Leadership Council, equipping 10-20 young members from around the world to get involved with the operations of EarthEcho and drive conservation efforts within their communities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.earthecho.org/youth-leadership-council|title = EarthEcho International - Youth Leadership Council}}</ref> EarthEcho collaborates with youth around the world to provide knowledge and develop tools that drive meaningful environmental action to protect and restore the ocean planet. Reaching more than 2 million people in 146 countries, the organization supports the next generation to become environmental leaders who will transform the future.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.earthecho.org/about|access-date=2021-11-28|website=www.earthecho.org}}</ref>

On September 4, 2006, he and Steve Irwin were filming for ''Ocean's Deadliest'' when a stingray barb pierced Irwin's chest, killing him. He later filmed the remainder of the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/crocodile-hunter-s-pal-recalls-final-moments-wbna16177169|title='Crocodile Hunter's' pal recalls final moments|date=December 13, 2006 }}</ref> thumb|Cousteau on the Great Barrier Reef in 2012 In 2007, he co-founded Azure Worldwide, an environmental consulting, development, marketing and media company<ref name=PostMag/><ref>[http://www.azureworldwide.com Azure Worldwide Official Website]</ref> which was the successor to his earlier for-profit venture, Thalassa Ventures Corporation.<ref name=OLinterview>Staff, Organic Lifestyles. February 23, 2007 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070223014710/http://www.organiclifestyles.ca/april%20interview%20philippe%20cousteau.htm Interview with Philippe Cousteau]</ref>

In May 2012, Cousteau and AdvisorShares launched an exchange-traded fund (ETF) called the AdvisorShares Global Echo ETF Exchange,<ref name=Charleston/><ref name=launch>{{cite web|last=Johnston|first=Michael|title=AdvisorShares Launches Global Echo ETF (GIVE)|url=http://etfdb.com/2012/advisorshares-launches-global-echo-etf-give/}}</ref> focused on sustainable investing; the fund said it would donate a portion of its fund management fees to philanthropic projects around the world, including the Panzi Hospital in Eastern Congo (which focuses on the treatment and empowerment of women).<ref>[https://www.treehugger.com/green-investments/philippe-cousteaus-global-echo-foundation-launches-sustainable-exchange-traded-fund.html Philippe Cousteau's Global Echo Foundation Launches Sustainable Exchange Traded Fund ]</ref>

He has lectured at the UN, Harvard University and other institutions on environmental issues, and has served on the board of directors of the Ocean Conservancy, National Environmental Education Foundation and the Marine Conservation Institute.<ref name=BBCoceans/> In January 2017, he gave a TED Talk at TEDx Pennsylvania Ave in Washington, DC.<ref>[https://www.tedxpennsylvaniaavenue.com/2017 2017 Speakers & Performers]</ref>

==Television and media==

From 2007 to 2009, Cousteau served as Chief Ocean Correspondent for Animal Planet, and appeared on ''Ocean's Deadliest'' and ''Springwatch''.<ref>[https://experiencelife.com/article/oceans-away/ Oceans Away: Philippe Cousteau Jr.]</ref> He has co-hosted a series called ''Oceans'' on BBC Two, and has served a correspondent on CNN and for the public radio show, ''Living on Earth''.<ref name=Charleston>Dan Conover for the Charleston City Paper. July 27, 2012 [http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/a-conversation-with-philippe-cousteau-jr/Content?oid=4124242 A Conversation with Philippe Cousteau Jr.]</ref><ref name=BBCoceans>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/oceans/progcast/philippe_cousteau.shtml BBC Oceans Cast]</ref><ref>Philippe Cousteau for ''Living on Earth''. October 6, 2006 [http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=06-P13-00040&segmentID=7 Living on Earth – {{sic|Foresa|ken|nolink=y}} Mermaids]</ref>

In 2010, he spent a great deal of time covering the BP Oil Spill with ABC's Good Morning America and Sam Champion and later CNN. Cousteau was the first person to scuba dive on television into the spill.<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippe Cousteau on Gulf oil spill |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806082117/https://live.washingtonpost.com/philippe-cousteau-on-gulf-oil-leak.html |archive-date=2020-08-06 |url-status=live |url=https://live.washingtonpost.com/philippe-cousteau-on-gulf-oil-leak.html}}</ref>

From 2010 through 2014 Cousteau was a Special Correspondent for CNN International and the host of Going Green, a series that explored critical conservation issues around the world. In addition, Cousteau hosted Expedition Sumatra for CNN in 2013, an 8-part series exploring the deforestation crisis in Sumatra, Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web |title=The devastation of Indonesia's forests |date=2013-10-14 |website=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205213455/https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/world/expedition-sumatra-episode-5-blog/ |archive-date=2023-02-05 |url-status=live |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/world/expedition-sumatra-episode-5-blog/}}</ref>

Since 2014, Cousteau has been the host and executive producer of Xploration Awesome Planet,<ref>Veronica Brenzina for Sports Diver. June 24, 2014 [http://www.sportdiver.com/article/press-release/explorer-philipe-cousteau-will-host-fox-televisions-new-series-xploration Explorer Philippe Cousteau will host Fox television's new series in 'Xploration']</ref> a series syndicated on FOX and Hulu. In 2015 he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the "Outstanding Lifestyle/ Travel/ Children's Series Host" category.<ref>Staff, The Wrap. April 26, 2015 [http://www.thewrap.com/daytime-emmy-awards-2015-complete-winners-list/ Daytime Emmy Awards 2015: Complete Winners List]</ref>

In 2015, Cousteau and his wife Ashlan traveled to Nepal to film wild Bengal tigers in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation; this led to a series about the expedition entitled ''Treasures of the Terai'' which aired online at Takepart.com and KTLA.<ref name="KTLA">[http://ktla.com/2015/11/02/treasures-of-the-terai-with-philippe-cousteau-and-ashlan-gorse-cousteau/ Nepal's Anti-poaching Strategy With Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau]</ref>

In 2016, Ashlan and Philippe produced and co-starred in an hour-long documentary for Discovery Channel's Shark Week called ''Nuclear Sharks'', which looked at how grey reef sharks in Bikini Atoll were able to recover from nuclear testing in the 1940s and 50s.<ref name="People2">[http://people.com/tv/philippe-cousteau-finds-sharks-off-islands-formerly-used-for-nuclear-testing/ Philippe Cousteau Discovers Sharks off Islands Formerly Used for Nuclear Testing]</ref>

Philippe and his wife Ashlan Gorse Cousteau co-starred in the Travel Channel series Caribbean Pirate Treasure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/caribbean-pirate-treasure|title=Caribbean Pirate Treasure}}</ref> The show won the Cynopsis TV Award for the best adventure reality series after its first season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cynopsis.com/events/cynopsis-tv-awards-2018/#reality-series-adventure|title=2018 TV Awards|work=Cynopsis Media|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425010857/http://www.cynopsis.com/events/cynopsis-tv-awards-2018/#reality-series-adventure|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life== Cousteau married entertainment journalist Ashlan Gorse on September 25, 2013, in a civil ceremony at the City Hall of the 8th arrondissement in Paris, and had a second ceremony on September 28, 2013, at the Château d'Esclimont in Saint-Symphorien-le-Château.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/fashion/weddings/across-a-crowded-room.html |title=Across a Crowded Room |work=The New York Times |date=October 4, 2013 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |author=de la Baume, Maïa }}</ref> They have two daughters born in 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/caribbean-pirate-treasure-hosts-ashlan-philippe-welcome-baby/|title=Caribbean Pirate Treasure's Ashlan Gorse, Philippe Cousteau Welcome Baby|date=May 24, 2019}}</ref> and 2021.

==Books== *''Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands'' (2010). Minneapolis: Free Spirit. {{ISBN|1-575-42348-0}} *''Making A Splash: A Kid's Guide to Protecting Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers & Wetlands'' (2013). Minneapolis: Free Spirit. {{ISBN|1-575-42417-7}} *''Really? Ocean'' (2016). New York: Scholastic Books. {{ISBN|0-545-80650-X}} *''Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and A Hundred Sea Turtles'' (2016). San Francisco: Chronicle Books. {{ISBN|1-452-11241-X}} *''The Endangereds 1'' (2020). New York: Harper. {{ISBN|0-062-89416-1}} *''The Endangereds 2: Melting Point'' (2021). New York: Harper. {{ISBN|0-062-89419-6}} *''Oceans For Dummies'' (2021). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. {{ISBN|1-119-65443-2}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.philippecousteau.com}} *{{iMDb name|2523100}} {{Authority control}}{{Steve Irwin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cousteau, Philippe Jr.}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:American people of French descent Category:Alumni of the University of St Andrews Category:American environmentalists Category:Activists from Washington, D.C. Category:CNN people Philippe Jr. Category:Ethical investment Category:St. George's School (Rhode Island) alumni Category:American oceanographers Category:Activists from Santa Monica, California Category:Mass media people from Santa Monica, California