#100Latinos2023
The 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action
In partnership with
In collaboration with
Our 2023 judges
Christiana Figueres
Global Climate Leader
Francisco Vera
Youth Activist
Lorena Arroyo
Editor-in-Chief América Futura
Ramón Cruz
Former Sierra Club President
Alex Lucitante
Indigenous Activist from the Ai’Kofán Nation
Leo Cerda
Indigenous Climate Activist from the Kichwa Community
Roberto Troya
VP of WWF-US and Reg. Director of WWF-Latin America
Xiye Bastida
Co-founder of the Re-Earth initiative
The List
The 100 most influential Latinos’ list, carried out with the support of different organizations, highlights individuals for their commitment in areas such as climate activism, communications, environmental rights, sustainable policies, science, and corporate impact.
100 latinos 2023
Adriana Guerrero
Executive Director of Brown Girl Surf|Adriana has extensive professional experience focused on the pursuit of social justice with a youth development perspective and community focus. For the past decade, she has worked in non-profit organizations reaching out to communities varying in socio-economic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds from around the world. Outside of work she has served on the leadership team for the Oakland Women's March and currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors at Camp Phoenix and Alpha Chi Omega Chapter Advisor at UC Berkeley.
Adrianna Quintero
Vice President of Programs and Equity, Energy Foundation |Adrianna was part of the Biden-Harris transition team for the U.S. Department of Energy, where she was responsible for assessing structures, policies, and budgets related to environmental and energy justice. Previously, she served as an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she focused on litigation and research related to environmental health issues, such as drinking water safety, pesticide use, air quality, and more. During her time at NRDC, she founded Voces Verdes, a national coalition of Latino leaders in business, health, and communities advocating for clean energy and climate action.
Alejandro Agag
President Formula E Holdings|Alejandro is the founder and Chairman of Formula E, where he has taken the ABB FIA Formula E Championship into the fastest-growing category of racing. Also, he launched Extreme E, an electric off-road racing series that highlights the devastating effects climate change is having on our environment. E1 is the latest venture, a series of electric speedboats that aim to raise awareness of water conservation.
Alexandra Narváez
Indigenous leader |Alexandra won the Goldman Prize in 2022, a global recognition of her leadership in the “powerful struggle to defend her territory, biodiversity, and ways of life.” She is notable for having led an indigenous movement to protect her people’s ancestral territory from gold mining. Her work resulted in a historic legal victory when the courts of Ecuador canceled 52 illegal gold extraction concessions. This milestone protects 79,000 acres of pristine and biodiverse rainforest in the headwaters of the Aguarico River in Ecuador, which is sacred to the Cofán.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Congresswoman District 14 Nueva York |In 2019, Alexandria became the youngest U.S. congresswoman in history. She introduced her first piece of legislation, the Green New Deal, in 2019. Along with Senator Ed Markey, she published a non-binding joint resolution outlining the key elements of a 10-year “economic mobilization” that would phase out fossil fuel use and reform the nation’s infrastructure. Additionally, she is working on projects to grant the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
Alexandria Villaseñor
Co-founder of Earth Uprising|Alexandra co-founded the U.S. Youth Climate Strike movement, part of the International Fridays for Future movement led by youth at the age of 13. She is currently an internationally recognized environmental activist, public speaker, author, and founder of several more initiatives, including the nonprofit focused on climate education, Earth Uprising International. She has spoken at the Democratic National Convention, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum. She is a contributing author to All We Can Save, an anthology of female climate leaders, and a child petitioner in the innovative international complaint filed with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Children vs. Climate Crisis.
Alicia Cawiya
Vice President of the Huaoraní Nation of Ecuador |Alicia is a key figure in the struggle of Ecuadorian Amazon women to defend the jungle and the rights of indigenous peoples. Alicia, or 'Hueya,' as her closest friends call her, has four children, grew up with her grandparents, and her name means 'guardian of water.' In Wao culture, only men can be considered 'warriors'; however, she has transformed this premise by taking on significant and complex confrontations against powerful oil companies.
Andrea Meza Murillo
Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) |Before joining the Convention, she served as Minister of Energy and Environment of the Government of Costa Rica. She brings more than 20 years of experience in sustainable development, working in more than 15 Latin American countries to formulate public policies, participating in international negotiations, and executing climate, conservation, and restoration projects.
Antonieta Cádiz
Deputy Executive Director of Climate Power in Action|Antonieta is a specialist in bilingual communications and is an activist with extensive experience in Hispanic and Latin American political issues at both the national and local levels. She is the Deputy Director of Climate Power in Action, where she provides a proactive and dynamic perspective on how climate change affects the lives of millions of Latinos in the United States. She serves as a spokesperson for national and state media and is responsible for increasing climate coverage in the media.
Artemisa Xakriabá
Brazilian human rights activist|Artemisa is a Brazilian human rights activist and leader of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil. Her work focuses on the Amazon rainforest and environmental destruction. She has expressed the problems her community faces in the fight to protect their territory from environmental damage caused by mining. She was present at the UN Climate Action Summit alongside Greta Thunberg. She also accompanied Thunberg to demand solutions from the U.S. Congress in Washington.
Ati Viviam Villafaña
Political scientist and environmental activist|Ati is a young Arhuaco woman who has participated in various global meetings, raising awareness about Indigenous peoples and the urgency of taking action on the climate crisis at events such as COP26. She was invited to a panel organized by The New York Times and Emma Watson, alongside Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafza. Additionally, she works on the consolidation of the School of Youth for Climate Action and was recognized as one of Forbes Colombia's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023.
Belén Páez
President of the Pachamama Foundation|Belén is an Ecuadorian environmentalist specializing in Climate Change, the Amazon, and Indigenous Peoples' Rights. She is also the Secretary General of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative, which seeks to protect 35 million hectares in collaboration with Amazonian Indigenous federations. For 25 years, Páez has led the implementation of programs focused on forest-based economies, ecotourism, renewable energy, fragile ecosystem conservation, and legal actions in defense of nature and climate justice.
Bertha Zuñiga
Indigenous activist and leader |Bertha is a Honduran social activist of Lenca descent, an Amerindian people who inhabited the south, center, and west of Honduras and the border area of El Salvador. She is the daughter of social leader Berta Cáceres, who was murdered in 2016. Shortly after taking on her mother's role as the general coordinator of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) in May 2017, she survived an assassination attempt. From this position, she has continued her social and environmental struggle, particularly against the establishment of megaprojects that threaten the economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights of the Lenca people.
Byron Ramos-Gudiel
Chief Program Officer Sierra Club|He is the former Executive Director of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), one of the oldest and most storied environmental justice organizations in the country. For the past 25 years, he has been involved in the Sierra Club's racial, immigrant, educational, and environmental justice organizing. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), the EJ Leadership Forum, and the California EJ Alliance (CEJA).
Carlos Correa
Ex Minister of Environment Colombia|Carlos was appointed as Colombia's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development on Oct 2020. In this role, he positioned the country as an international reference in the fight against climate change and positive biodiversity, as well as the protection of the oceans. He was recognized by National Geographic for insisting on the protection of 30% of marine and terrestrial areas globally by 2030, an action that Colombia achieved in 2022, eight years earlier.
Carlos Nobre
Scientist at the Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of São Paulo|Carlos is a prominent climatologist and advocate for the Amazon. He has been recognized globally for his contributions to climate change research and the conservation of the Amazon. He was elected to The Royal Society, becoming the first Brazilian to receive such an honor since the 19th century. Dedicated to Amazon research, he is a pioneer in the theory of how deforestation accelerates the tipping point of the world's largest tropical forest. Nobre has strengthened scientific capacity in Brazil, profoundly impacting political decision-making.
Carlos Vives
Singer-songwriter and environmentalist|In addition to being a renowned singer-songwriter and actor, Carlos is a dedicated social and environmental activist who has been a leading voice for sustainability in Colombia. Vives has joined the Plastic Oceans Foundation as a supporting ambassador, showcasing his commitment to environmental care through Tras La Perla, a nonprofit organization he founded that became part of Plastic Oceans International's (POI) Blue Communities program, launched in January 2021.
Carmen Busquets
Entrepreneur, strategic investor and philanthropist|Carmen is a Venezuelan entrepreneur, strategic investor, and philanthropist whose career in the luxury fashion industry spans over three decades. In addition to her investments, Carmen leverages her entrepreneurial expertise to help non-profit organizations engaged in the conservation of Earth’s natural resources, in sustainable economic development, and in providing education and human rights for diverse communities. Carmen is on the Board of Glasswing International, Nest, and Parsons School of Design, and is a National Council member of WWF.
CarolinaPeña
Activist and EcoMadres Leader|Carolina began volunteering with Moms Clean Air Force in 2019 at the Play-In for Climate Action. She is currently dedicated to empowering her community members and policymakers to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She has extensive experience working with UN agencies, including UN Migration for IOM and the Pan American Health Organization. Previously, he worked facilitating technical assistance and knowledge sharing towards a clean energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Carolina Vera
Vice Chair of IPCC Working Group 1|Carolina is the Vice President of the UN IPCC program working group, member of the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization. She is the Director of the Argentine-French Institute for Climate Studies and Science, jointly sponsored by the University of Buenos Aires, the National Council of Sciences of Argentina, and the National Center for Scientific Research. She has extensive experience in research on the prediction of climate variability and change and has participated in numerous international research projects and programs related to these topics.
Celia Xakriaba
Indigenous federal deputy Minas Gerais|Celia is an educator and indigenous activist from the Xakriabá people of Brazil. She is recognized for conducting debates and lectures at universities in Brazil, promoting, among other things, the advancement of the status and rights of indigenous women, the territorial rights of indigenous peoples, and education. In 2015, she became the first person of indigenous descent to represent her ethnicity in the Department of Education of Minas Gerais, and she frequently holds lectures and discussions at universities in Brazil focused on indigenous rights and the promotion of the revitalization of native languages in Brazil.
Christina Mittermeier
Founder SeaLegacy|Cristina "Mitty", a visionary photographer, marine biologist, and avid conservationist, stands as a formidable force in the realm of environmental advocacy. In 2014 she, alongside her partner Paul Nicklen, co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a healthy and abundant ocean through powerful storytelling and impactful visual media. Through her lens, she conveys the delicate balance of natural ecosystems and the urgency to preserve these habitats that sustain a myriad of life. Her art, driven by a desire to make a difference, serves as a compelling call to action, illustrating the transformative power of photography.
Claudia Bahamón
Model, Presenter and Activist|Claudia is one of the most recognized figures in Colombia thanks to her talent in front of the cameras and her work for the environment. Through her social networks, Claudia presents content that seeks to generate environmental awareness so that experts and learners can find out about environmental challenges and possible solutions to live sustainably - to a community of followers of more than 4.5 million. She is also the founder of the BeClá platform, which raises awareness about the relationship between nature and human well-being.
Cristián Samper
Managing Director and Leader of Nature Solutions Bezos Fund|Cristián works in the protection and restoration of nature, as well as the transformation of food systems. He served as president of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for a decade, overseeing the largest network of urban wildlife parks. He was Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the founding director of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute in Colombia. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Daniel Caceres
Founder and leader of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance HUB Center|Daniel is the founder and leader of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Center in Peru and co-founder of the collective "Cuidando el Océano." He has worked on numerous biodiversity and marine conservation projects, ranging from working with humpback whales to documenting new reefs in northern Peru. He has also been an active voice for the Peruvian ocean in both national and international policy events. And has worked to include an ocean agenda in national policy organizing the first ocean hearing and youth climate summit in the Peruvian Congress.
Daniel Servitje
President and General Director Grupo Bimbo|Daniel has been recognized as one of Fortune's 50 Greatest Leaders in the World. He has been one of the biggest creators of job opportunities by having a sustainable method of operation, maximizing the use of green energy, and optimizing costs to produce high-quality products. He has consolidated Grupo Bimbo as a world leader in baking, in addition to being recognized as one of "The World's Most Ethical Companies" in the Ethisphere Institute list.
Daniela Fernandez
Founder of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)|Daniela was 19 when she founded the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA). Five years later, SOA created the world's largest network of young ocean leaders in over 150 countries. She launched the first Ocean Solutions Accelerator to support the development of technological solutions to address the greatest threats facing our oceans. She currently serves as a keynote speaker at global events and the United Nations.
Diwigdi Valiente
Director of Tourism Planning and Development of the Ministry of Tourism of Panama.|Diwigdi holds a master's degree in Economics and Finance focused on public policy and has been a consultant on issues related to sustainable tourism, indigenous peoples, and the blue economy. He has also represented Panama in multiple World Congresses focused on innovative ideas to promote sustainable development around the world and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In September 2020, he was selected as one of the 10 "Young Leaders of the Future" in Panama.
Domingo Peas
Indigenous Leader from the Achuar Nation|Domingo is currently a technical advisor and field representative of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon, which is the organization that represents 11 indigenous nationalities in the region. In this capacity, Domingo is the official spokesperson for the Amazon Sacred Waters Initiative for the protection of the Napo-Marañón river basins. He is known for his firm position in defense of the rights of indigenous nationalities and Mother Earth, especially in the South Central Amazon.
Elizabeth Yeampierre
Executive Director UPROSE|Elizabeth is a national leader in the climate justice movement and co-chair of the Climate Justice Alliance. She is the executive director of UPROSE, the oldest Latino community organization in Brooklyn. A pioneer in community organizing around just and sustainable development, environmental justice, and climate adaptation.
Emilio Chong
Environmental Leader and Activist|Emilio has worked tirelessly to defend the rights and interests of the indigenous people. He is also widely recognized as the founder of Mullu TV, an audiovisual collective that uses film and journalism as tools to fight for a more just, diverse, and collective world. Through the collaborative creation and distribution of films, reports, and videos, Mullu TV seeks to amplify the stories and realities of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and frontline communities.
Emma Torres
Strategic Coordinator Science Panel for the Amazon|Emma is a Senior Sustainability Advisor for UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean. She has more than 20 years of experience in the UN. She has coordinated a strategic initiative in the LAC region called "The Biodiversity Superpower." She has a master's degree in Economics from the Complutense University of Madrid and a degree in Environmental Economics and Climate Change from IIED-Harvard University.
Emma Torres
Leader of Campesinos Sin Fronteras|Born into a family of migrant farmworkers, she began working on California farms at the age of 13. Now 63, Torres is dedicated to passing on her wisdom to people with stories similar to hers: migrants from Mexico who, like her as a child, moved frequently between the U.S.-Mexico border. Her life is a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering love for family, culture, and the environment.
Enric Sala
National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence|Sala is a former university professor who found himself writing the obituary of marine life and left academia to become a full-time conservationist as a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. Sala's current goals are to help protect critical marine ecosystems around the world and to develop new business models for marine conservation. He also produces documentaries and other media to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy environment.
Estefany Carrasco-Gonzáles
Chispa National Director| Estefany fights for a healthier world for Latinx communities and minorities in the U.S. Her background focuses on building social movements and community organizing. She has conducted outreach activities to mobilize communities of color, managed campaigns, and developed curricula on equitable access to education, environmental justice, immigrant rights, and racial and social justice in New Mexico and across the country.
Eva Longoria
Actress, philanthropist, and activist|Eva stands out as a promoter of the rights of the Latino community and carries out significant humanitarian work through the Eva Longoria Foundation, which is dedicated to the education of Latina women and their empowerment in business matters. Longoria is the co-founder of the Latino Victory Project, which launched the Vote Like a Madre campaign. Through this campaign, they succeeded in bringing 40,000 Latinas to the polls in Arizona and Florida. Through her work, Longoria acknowledges the urgency of the climate crisis and uses the influence of Latina celebrities to secure a future for the next generations.
Fany Kuiru
Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)|Fany is an Indigenous leader, expert in legal and political advice in public policy between the national government and ethnic peoples, women's rights, economic, social, and cultural rights from a gender perspective. Her work experience has led her to assume public functions, providing a place for Indigenous communities in the public administration of her country, Colombia.
Favianna Rodriguez
Co-Founder and President of The Center for Cultural Power|Artist, cultural strategist, and social movement leader. Favianna is considered a visionary behind the art and narrative of Migration Is Beautiful, managing to embody the perspective of a first-generation American Latina artist with Afro-Peruvian roots. Her work addresses migration, economic inequality, gender justice, and climate change. She is considered one of the leading thinkers and personalities who bring together art, culture, and social impact, working closely with social movements around the world.
Felipe Benítez
Executive Director Corazón Latino|Felipe Benítez has more than 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of strategic communication programs. Through his work with leading organizations such as United Way Worldwide, Fenton Communications, and Ogilvy Public Relations, Benítez has designed and implemented communication and outreach strategies for advocacy campaigns around the world, from the protection of the fundamental rights of indigenous groups in the Amazon to fighting climate change to help protect the rights of immigrants in the United States.
Frances Colón
Science diplomat and environmental policy expert|Francis is a director of International Climate Policy at American Progress, where she leads a program that promotes international actions to meet global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. Frances served as Deputy Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, where she advocated for the integration of science and technology into foreign policy dialogues, the global advancement of women in science, and climate policy for former President Barack Obama’s Energy and Climate Alliance of the Americas.
Gisele Bündchen
Brazilian model and environmental activist|Gisele has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program since 2009, participating in causes that advocate for biodiversity and wildlife. She has also been honored by Harvard University and UCLA for her long-standing commitment to environmental issues. She is a global environmentalist, bestselling author, philanthropist, and supermodel. With a unique global reach, Bündchen uses her influence to draw attention to our planet and how society can work collectively to protect it.
Gonzalo Muñoz
UN High-Level Champion for Climate Change for COP25|Gonzalo is a High-Level Champion for Climate Change of the United Nations from the presidency of COP25, appointed by the Chilean presidency in 2019. Previously, he co-founded and led TriCiclos, one of the most recognized Latin American companies in the area of circular economy and recycling. He has received awards for environmental achievement, innovation, and social entrepreneurship in Chile; and he was honored with the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) on the Queen's Honors List in 2022.
Gustavo Manrique
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador|Gustavo was Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition from May 2021 to March 2023. His professional career and academic training accredit him with a solid leadership profile and capacity for strategic influence in the development of innovative environmental projects in Ecuador. He was one of the leaders of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR), an unprecedented regional initiative aimed at conserving over 500,000 square kilometers of ocean and reaching one of the most productive and biodiverse areas in the ocean.
Helena Gualinga
Environmental and Human Rights Activist|She is an Ecuadorian environmental and human rights activist from the Kichwa Sarayuku community in Pastaza, Ecuador. She has become a spokesperson for the Sarayuku indigenous community and exposes the conflict between oil companies and her community at the local, national and international level. Gualinga is co-founder of Polluters out, which was created to demand that the UNFCCC reject funding from fossil fuel corporations.
Horacio Rodríguez Larreta
Mayor of Buenos Aires|Horacio is an Argentine politician and economist. As mayor to Buenos Aires, he co-created the Climate Action Plan 2050 to become a carbon-neutral city. Larreta presented the C40 World Mayors Summit, the most important global event on cities and climate change, an organization of which he is a member.
Irene Burga
Director of Green Latinos Climate Justice and Clean Air Program|Irene works to expand Latino priorities around air pollution and climate at the national level. She has a decade of experience designing and implementing climate and clean air strategies that improve the quality of life for communities at the forefront of the climate crisis. Additionally, she has driven coalition-building efforts to reduce the impacts of oil and gas production.
Isaías Hernández
Founder of Queer Brown Vegan|Isaías is the founder of Queer Brown Vegan, an environmental educational platform where he uses social media and a creative strategy to develop climate literacy. He aims to provide a safe space for environmentalists by using illustrations, videos, and writing to tell stories. Born in Los Angeles, California, in a community facing environmental injustices, he became interested in learning about his surroundings. His work focuses on environmental justice.
Javier Peña
Influencer and environmental communicator|Javier is the founder of HOPE, an organization dedicated to implementing and communicating solutions for ecosystem restoration and carbon capture, regenerative agriculture, forest restoration, marine ecosystem regeneration, climate action training, and environmental outreach. Javier Peña has possibly become the world's largest climate influencer with his viral videos, which have exceeded 500 million views on social media.
Jonathan Herzfeld
Chief Executive Officer fiiS|Jonathan is a leader who drives collaboration for sustainable development. Developing actions, audiences, and communities with purpose, inspiring behavioral change through the dissemination of new paradigms, actions, emotions, and music. Through its platform, he spreads and increases the likelihood of more and better partnerships between organizations and citizens.
Jorge Pérez Rubio
Indigenous Leader from the Murui Community|Jorge is a native of the Murui-Muinanɨ people. He was president of the Regional Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the East, which articulates 23 indigenous groups. He has been a leader in issues related to the conservation of the Amazon and the environmental pollution of their communities. He has been a representative of the Amazonian peoples in the preparation of proposals against climate change that were presented to the Ministry of the Environment.
José González
Founder of Latino Outdoors|Jose is the founder and emeritus director of Latino Outdoors. He works as an educator and promotes art with purpose, often exploring the intersection between the environment and culture. He also serves as an environmental education advisor, instructor, and outdoor education coordinator. As a partner of the Avarna Group and through his own consultancy, his work focuses on equity and inclusion frameworks and practices related to environmental and conservation issues. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.
José Ignacio Sánchez Galán
Executive Chairman of Iberdrola|José Ignacio has led companies in various industrial and technological sectors, profoundly changing the profile of all of them based on his vision of the future and his ability to anticipate new trends. Since he arrived at Iberdrola, his focus on international expansion and his commitment to electrification as an essential factor in reducing emissions have led the company to invest more than €140 billion in renewable energies, smart grids, energy storage, and new vectors such as green hydrogen. His strong commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility has made the company a benchmark in the main sustainability indices.
Juan FermínRodríguez
President and Founder Kingo Energy|Juan is an entrepreneur and executive with over 20 years of experience. He is the Founder, CEO, and President of Kingo. Kingo's vision is to power 100 million homes by 2035, which will make it the largest utility company in history. Its work has allowed it to develop unique expertise and impact on at least 9 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as implement environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks and policies.
Julieta Martínez
Co-Founder of the Latinas for Climate Movement|Julieta is the founder of the Tremendas Regional Action Platform, the activist promotes the empowerment of women by inviting them to use their talents and skills to generate social impact. She is a co-founder of the Latinas for Climate movement, WWF ambassador, and member of the Ashoka Young Agents of Change Network.
Laura Ortiz Montemayor
Founder of SVX México|Laura is a social entrepreneur, passionate about regenerative culture, decentralized systems, and an advocate for impact investing. Her life mission is to ensure that capital serves humanity, and for the past several years she has focused on advancing social, economic, and environmental justice through impact investing capacity building and consulting.
Laurentino Cortizo
President of Panama|The president has worked on concrete actions to make Panama a carbon-negative country. He signed the declaration “America for the Protection of the Oceans”, aiming at advancing regional mechanisms that allow the development of scientific knowledge and the exchange of best practices. Panama consolidated itself as a “Blue Leader” by managing to protect 30% of its marine surface, demonstrating its commitment to the 30×30 goals.
Leila Salazar Lopez
Executive Director Amazon Watch| Leila is a passionate advocate for Mother Earth, the Amazon, Indigenous Rights, and Climate Justice. Since 2015, she has been the Executive Director of Amazon Watch, where she seeks to protect and defend the biocultural and climatic integrity of the Amazon rainforest in solidarity with Indigenous and forest peoples. For over 25 years, Leila has worked to defend the world’s tropical forests, human rights, and the climate through grassroots organizing and international campaigns.
Liz Chicaje Churay
Indigenous activist|Liz as a teenager took on two roles that would define her place in the world: mother and activist. As a mother, she began traveling with her children to defend her community against deforestation and illegal mining. She has become an essential figure in the fight to protect the Peruvian Amazon and the communities that inhabit it. In 2021, the Goldman Foundation awarded her one of its six annual awards—the so-called "Nobel Prize of Ecology"—for her efforts over more than 20 years.
Lourdes Inga
Executive Director at International Funders for Indigenous Peoples|Lourdes has over two decades of experience in international philanthropy, working with foundations and nonprofit organizations dedicated to safeguarding the rights of Indigenous peoples, gender equity, and social justice. She is the Executive Director at the International Fund for Indigenous Peoples, and under her leadership, she seeks to expand Indigenous philanthropy by promoting the creation of funds and advocating for greater funding resources for Indigenous communities. Lourdes has recently joined the Board of Directors of the Equality Fund, an innovative new initiative aimed at transferring power and resources to women's movements worldwide.
Lucas Campodonico
Director Bioguia|Lucas Campodónico is co-founder and director of the B-ECO group formed by Greca, a sustainable design company; Ecomania, a non-profit civil association that promotes sustainable habits; Greenbondi, a strategy and communication consultancy that works for multinationals and governments to move towards sustainability; and La Bioguia, which has become the largest sustainable online community in Latin America with more than 17 million followers.
Luiz Seabra
Founder Natura Cosmetics|Luiz created Natura over 20 years ago, an organization that works in fair trade with communities in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon region. Through local partnerships, Natura Cosmetics helps increase the income of more than 2,000 families of local small-scale Brazilian farmers, totaling around 8,500 people. Through this fair trade and the daily work of these local communities, they manage to preserve 18,000 square kilometers of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and keep it standing for future generations.
Maisa Rojas
Minister of the Environment of Chile|Maisa is a climatologist and climate change expert. She holds a degree in Physics from the University of Chile and a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the University of Oxford, England, with a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University, United States. Since March 11, 2022, she has served as the Minister of the Environment and the coordinator of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change.
Maite Arce
Founder of the Hispanic Access Foundation| As a self-taught executive director, Maite founded the Hispanic Access Foundation in 2010, transforming it into a national organization impacting 2.1 million people annually with a $10 million budget. Her journey is rooted in her immigrant story of adversity, love, support, and progress, guided by the values instilled by her parents: work ethic, family devotion, service, and a drive for improvement. Maite's work has contributed to impactful public policies, including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the designation of National Public Lands Monuments like Castner Range in Texas and the San Gabriel Mountains in California.
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš
Founder and CEO of Azul| Marce works with the Latino community to protect coastlines and oceans. Through her efforts, she has helped design and implement a statewide network of marine protected areas, as well as a sustainability and marketing program for California's local fisheries. As the leader of the campaign to ban single-use plastic bags in California, she has worked to reduce marine pollution and protect ocean wildlife. She participated in the first Congressional Roundtable on Environmental Justice on Capitol Hill and was the lead author of a white paper on Latino Environmental Leadership, praised as "a model for diversity in the Environmental Movement."
Marcelo Mena
Executive Director Global Methane HUB and Chilean Politician|Marcelo as a minister, led multiple international environmental initiatives. He helped craft a landmark agreement to phase out coal-fired power generation, the first carbon taxes in South America for power generation, the creation of 45,000 square kilometers of national parks, and the protection of 1.3 million square kilometers of ocean. Previously, he was a Practice Manager at the World Bank, where he led the team that created the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Maria Ortiz Perez
Managing Director of Energy and Environment Program at the Aspen Institute|Maria worked at the United Nations in Chile and Lebanon. As Deputy Chief of Staff at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, she led the institution's initiatives on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Currently, she works at the Aspen Institute.
Maria Elena Gutierrez
Director Amazon Conservation (ACCA)|Maria is an industrial engineer with more than 15 years of experience working on environmental initiatives, promoting a circular economy, and economic integration, and driving international negotiations. She stands out for his leadership and capacity to work in the private sector and government, leading civil society actors to implement local, regional, and national initiatives.
María Jose Andrade
Indigenous Leader and Protector of the Amazon |Majo is an indigenous leader from the Kichwa community of Serena, located in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Beyond her community, Majo stands out as a representative of Indigenous youth, highlighting how important it is to include young voices in global discussions. She works tirelessly to preserve her ancestral worldviews, protect her territories, and keep alive the transmission of knowledge and spirituality that has characterized her people
Mark Magaña
President and CEO of GreenLatinos|Mark is the founding president and executive director of GreenLatinos, the largest national network of Latino environmental advocates in the United States. He is the first Latino to serve as senior staff in both the White House and Congressional leadership. Additionally, he was a special assistant to President Clinton.
Maruxa Cardama
Secretary General of SLOCAT|Maruxa has been working on the design and execution of high-impact strategies that provide public policy solutions and build partnerships to achieve equitable prosperity, greater sustainability, and promote climate action for more than 20 years. From executive and advisory positions in NGOs, and international and governmental organizations, she has collaborated with leaders from diverse spheres and countries. She founded Communitas, a coalition that promoted knowledge-based advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goal of Cities and Human Settlements.
Máximo Mazzocco
Founder Eco House Global|Maximo is the founder and president of Eco House Global, a nonprofit organization born in Argentina, with a presence in Latin America, Europe, and Africa, specializing in education, policy, economics, and volunteering. He was selected as a UN Youth Leader, declared a Distinguished Personality of the City of Buenos Aires, and one of the 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the Year by JCI International. He is the author of “Notes of an Environmentalist: Towards a Philosophy for Sustainability.”
Milciades Concepcion
Minister of Environment, Panama|Minister Milciades Concepción graduated as an Agronomist at the University of Panama, and has a Master’s Degree in Ecology and Conservation from the USMA and in Higher Education at the Universidad Latina. His professional experience includes the positions of Senior Project Environmental Coordinator for Studies of the Indio River Reservoir with UNDP and ACP, Environmental Manager of ETESA, Environmental Manager of IRHE, Head of the Department of Watershed Management of IRHE, Consultant and Auditor Environmental.
Nalleli Cobo
Activist for climate justice |Nalleli led a coalition to permanently shut down a toxic oil-drilling site in her community at the age of 19 in March 2020. Her continued organizing against urban oil extraction has now yielded major policy movement within both the Los Angeles City Council and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which voted unanimously to ban new oil exploration and phase out of existing sites. For her work, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize 2022.
Natalia Greene
Director of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature-GARN.|Natalia is an Ecuadorian political scientist, expert in Climate Change and Sustainable Development. She promoted the recognition of the Rights of Nature in the Ecuadorian Constitution and is a global leader in the Rights of Nature movement. Co-founder, member of the Executive Committee, and Global Director of GARN. Secretary of the International Courts of Nature. Formerly President, currently Vice President of CEDENMA. Expert of the United Nations Harmony with Nature initiative. She worked on the environmental and indigenous aspects of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative.
Nemo Guiguita
Indigenous activist |Nemo is a Waorani woman, she fights for the defense of indigenous territories, equality of rights, and tirelessly promotes the financial independence of her community. She was the vice president of the Waorani Nationality in 2017 and currently works with women in training schools, addressing intercultural health issues by promoting ancestral medicine. She also focuses on developing comprehensive education plans for future generations. She is part of CONFENIAE, a regional indigenous organization that represents nearly 1,500 communities belonging to various Amazonian nationalities.
Nemonte Nemquimo
Indigenous activist and member of the Waorani Nation |Nemonte filed a lawsuit against the Ecuadorian government to prevent oil extraction in ancestral Wuaorani lands in the Amazon rainforest, which culminated in 2019 with a ruling in favor of protecting the half-million-acre area. A co-founder of Alianza Ceibo, she is the first woman president of the Wuaorani of Pastaza. In 2020, she received several accolades: she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, was the only indigenous woman on Time magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, and was included in the BBC's list of 100 Women. The United Nations Environment Programme awarded her the "Champions of the Earth" prize in the "Action and Inspiration" category.
Nina Gualinga
Ecuadorian activist for environmental and Indigenous rights|Nina is a young Indigenous leader from the Kichwa community of Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Since the age of eight, she has been actively involved in local, national, and global efforts to defend Indigenous rights and territories in the Amazon and fight for climate justice. Her efforts reached the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San José, Costa Rica, where she achieved a historic victory against the Ecuadorian government for violating the rights of Indigenous communities and their territory for oil exploitation.
Papa Francisco
Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church|Pope Francisco, through his encyclical Laudato Si', has promoted awareness about the care of our "common home," the planet, warning of the severe issues of the environmental crisis and holding the global economic system responsible for bringing humanity to the brink of collapse due to its lack of ethical foundation. In his view, the greed of market capitalism and the "god of money" are also leading humanity to the pollution of the human soul and the corrosion of its spirit.
Patricia Gualinga
Kichwa Indigenous leader and Forest Defender |Patricia is a leader of the Kichwa community of Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon, she recently published Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest, a children's book that tells the story of her community and their efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest. Patricia has been on the front lines of her community's fight and resistance against the extractive industries that threaten their rights and lands. She has been a powerful advocate for Indigenous rights and the rights of nature, bringing international attention to the struggles of her people and other Indigenous communities fighting to protect the Amazon.
Paula Caballero
The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Regional Managing Director for Latin America|Paula leads a team of more than 400 staff across 9 countries, stretching from Mexico to Argentina, to implement bold strategies and partnerships to conserve the world’s most biodiverse region. She has extensive experience in sustainable development. She is recognized for having created the concept of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is considered a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all." For this work, she received the German Sustainability Award in 2019 and the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in 2014 for her contribution to environmental action leading to positive change.
Priscila Tapajowara
President of Mídia Indígena|Priscila belongs to the Tapajó people, one of the 13 communities in the lower Tapajós River region in the Brazilian Amazon. She is an Indigenous activist, climate activist, photographer, audiovisual content producer, and coordinator of Mídia India, a decentralized network of women and men communicators that seeks to "occupy networks, demarcate screens, and improve technologies to create new strategies for struggle.
Puyr Tembe
Indigenous activist |Puyr has managed to excel in the fight for the rights of her people and other Indigenous tribes in the region. She holds the position of president of the State Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Pará, a role that places her in a strategic position to advocate for Indigenous causes. In addition to her leadership in the federation, Puyr is a member of the executive branch of the Union of Indigenous Women of the Brazilian Amazon, an organization that brings together brave women willing to defend their traditions, lands, and rights. Her passion and commitment also led her to co-found Anmiga (National Association of Indigenous Women Warriors of Ancestry).
Raimundo Espinoza
Founder and Executive Director, Conservacion ConCiencia|Raimundo has extensive experience in coral reef conservation and management and collaborates with commercial fishers, NGOs, and governments across the Caribbean and Latin America to advance conservation actions on land and sea.
Raul Garcia
Earthjustice Vice President of Policy and Legislation|Raúl leads a team of advocates working with policymakers in Congress, federal agencies, and the White House to advance some of the most important policy issues around climate, environmental health, and biodiversity. Prior to Earthjustice, Raúl served as Legislative Director for Healthy Communities, where he worked on Earthjustice's advocacy strategies to defend and improve federal safeguards for clean air, clean water, and against toxic exposure.
Raúl Manuel Grijalva
Representative of Arizona's 3rd Congressional District|Raúl is considered a central figure behind the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, an ambitious county program for planned land use and biodiversity conservation. He introduced the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act to modernize federal ocean management policy to account for climate change. He fights to limit climate impacts on marine habitats and helps boost Arctic conservation efforts.
Rosario Dawson
Actress and environmental activist|Rosario's activism is a central part of almost every project she undertakes. In 2018, she was the executive producer and narrator of The Need to Grow, a documentary based on the alarming premise that we have only 60 years of arable land left. Voto Latino, the organization she co-founded, promotes civic engagement among Latino voters and makes clear how our changing climate directly impacts these communities.
Sebastián Navarro
Secretary General of the CC35 coalition|Sebastian is the Secretary General of the coalition of "Capital Cities of the Americas facing Climate Change," CC35, his work is to strengthen the climate integration of the 35 governments in the hemisphere through local diplomacy. He created the process of the "Summit of Mayors against the Climate Crisis" in Latin America (Argentina, Uruguay, and Ecuador) with the support of the European Union. He promoted the "Federal Climate Parliament" to amplify the voice of the Provinces in Argentina as a unique model for replication towards COP24. From CC35, he leads a new global program for monitoring and democratization of protected areas worldwide and, complementarily, a carbon program called GREEN+, based on the latest satellite technology to strengthen the Montreal Pact of 30% protection by 2030.
Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado Júnior
Photographer, documentary filmmaker, and Activist|Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist. Together with his wife Lélia, he has worked on the restoration of part of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. In 1998, they managed to convert 17,000 hectares into a nature reserve and created the Terra Institute. The institute is dedicated to reforestation projects and environmental education.
Sonia Guajajara
Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil|Sonia Guajajara stands out for her fight for the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment. She is recognized for her defense of the rights of indigenous peoples and their territories. She was chosen as one of the 100 most influential people of 2022 by TIME magazine.
Tais Gadea Lara
Climate Journalist|Tais is an expert on environmental and climate change issues, she teaches journalism classes, environmental journalism training workshops, and lectures on climate change. She has covered climate negotiations and major events of the international political agenda on sustainable development, such as the United Nations General Assembly.
Thais López Vogel
Co-Founder VoLo Foundation |Thais co-founded and leads VoLo Foundation, she travels around the world leading sustainable projects in countries like Nicaragua and Ethiopia. Through her interviews, participation in seminars, and conferences, she promotes innovation and new lifestyle and consumption habits, informing and educating on how to stop climate change and encouraging philanthropic activism in environmental matters. The renowned lawyer is also a leader of Climate Correction, one of the most prominent conferences held annually in the United States.
Toya Montoya
Environmentalist & Founder O2 Reserve|Creator of O2 Reserve, a company dedicated to the management, conservation, and protection of biodiversity. They are a channel between citizens, private companies, and the state toward the preservation of natural ecosystems. Her first reserve is located in the tropical jungle of Magdalena Medio, Colombia.
Tricia Cortez
Executive Director Rio Grande International Studies in Laredo, TX|Tricia joined the Rio Grande International Study Center in May 2010, where she currently serves as the executive director. She is responsible for carrying out its mission to protect and preserve the only source of drinking water, the Rio Grande, and the local environment. Her focus is on water security, river restoration, sustainable development, habitat protection, climate justice, grassroots cultural organization, and improving the quality of life for residents of the South Texas border.
Txai Surui
Brazilian environmental and Indigenous activist|Txai is the founder and coordinator of the Indigenous Youth Movement of Rondônia. She studied law and works with the legal team of Kanindé to preserve the rights and land of Indigenous tribes. Her work focuses on climate justice, as the crisis is affecting the territories and quality of life of Indigenous peoples. She is one of six young climate activists who sued the Brazilian government for changing its carbon reference from 2005 to meet the carbon reduction goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Vanessa Hauc
Journalist and Director of Planet Earth, Telemundo|Vanessa is an acclaimed journalist and Emmy Award winner. She has established herself as an essential source of environmental information for the Hispanic community in the U.S., covering everything from social, cultural, and political events to natural disasters, reporting directly from the heart of the action. Driven by her passion for environmental issues, Vanessa created the "Alerta Verde" segment on Telemundo, aimed at educating the community on the importance of protecting our planet. Currently, she leads the Environmental Investigative Unit "Planeta Tierra" focused on environmental issues at Telemundo.
Wrays Pérez
Wampís Indigenous leader and environmental defender|Wrays was the regional advisor for Amazonas, representing the province of Condorcanqui. Since November 2015, he became the first Pámuk of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation (GTANW), which groups 27 Wampís communities in the regions of Loreto and Amazonas, a position he held until April 20, 2021. With the support of the council of elders, he led the territorial defense of the nation, Indigenous rights, and the protection of watersheds against illegal mining.
Xavier Cortada
Eco-artist and founder of the Xavier Cortada Foundation|Xavier is a professor at the University of Miami and an artist-in-residence at Pinecrest Gardens, a botanical garden where he has his studio and gallery. His artistic practice is socially engaged with sustainability, educating and inspiring community members to work and learn together to solve environmental issues. He promotes a deep conceptual commitment with his participants and explores themes related to climate change to raise awareness and action around environmental and social justice issues. He is recognized as one of the Latino artists most actively working for the protection of mangroves and raising awareness about global warming through his works and performances.
Yessenia Funes
Environmental journalist and editor of Atmos|Yessenia is an environmental journalist and editor at Atmos, a publication where she covers environmental and climate justice issues. As an independent journalist, she also reports for other outlets, including The Guardian, Grist, Vogue, Cosmo, i-D, and more. She is recognized for having published her independent climate newsletter called Possibilities, a creative space that explores the options that arise where the climate crisis meets the community.