THE 100 LATINOS MOST COMMITTED TO CLIMATE ACTION 2024
Strengthening the voice of Latinos in the climate movement.
The 100 Latinos’ list, carried out with the support of partner organizations, highlights individuals for their commitment in areas such as climate activism, communications, environmental rights, sustainable policies, science, and corporate impact.
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Latino leaders nominated
In partnership with
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Meet our 2024 Judges
Carmen Busquets
Entrepreneur, strategic investor, and philanthropist
Carlos Correa
Ex Minister of Environment Colombia
Claudia Bahamón
Founder of BeClá and Environmentalist
Domingo Peas
President of the Board of Directors, Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance
Fany Kuiru
Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)
Helena Gualinga
Environmental and Human Rights Activist
Julieta Martinez
Founder of Tremendas
Louis Aguirre
Anchor & Environmental Reporter WPLG Local 10 News
Maximiliano Bello
Policy Advisor Mission Blue
Tais Gadea Lara
Multimedia Climate Reporter & Author of Planet at Red/Acción
100 latinos 2024
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.
Alex Lucitante
Indigenous activist from the Ai'Kofán Nation|Alex grew up with the Amazon as his backyard, this is why he has dedicated his life to protecting this territory. Known as "The Voice of the Ancestors' Mandate," Alex recognizes that the legacy of the Elders is an unavoidable responsibility. He tirelessly fights to defend his territory against extractive activities. He is a member of the A'I Kofan community of Sinangoe and received the Goldman Prize in 2022, considered the "Nobel Prize" for the environment.
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 Delgado
Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of USDA | For the past 17 years, Andrea has been committed to meaningful engagement, advocacy, and leadership of underserved communities in federal policymaking. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Andrea oversees the Forest Service, the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Additionally, she leads efforts to reform compensation for wildland firefighters and promote tribal co-management of the nation’s forests and prairies.
Andrea Obaid Carrión
Journalist from the Diego Portales University | Andrea is a journalist with a Master’s degree in Scientific, Medical, and Environmental Communication. She is the president of the Chilean Association of Journalists and Professionals for Science Communication (ACHIPEC). Founder and director of the production companies Neurona Group and Endorfinas. Radio host and presenter of major television programs, and organizer of the national environmental education campaign "Save the Earth."
Ángel Juárez Almendros
Social activist, environmentalist and writer |Angel's journey in the environmental field began in 1993 with the Mediterrània Foundation, a center for ecological initiatives, which later became the Mare Terra Mediterrània Foundation, for which he is the president. In 2006, he promoted the International Network of Writers for the Earth, a collective that brings together more than 800 personalities from around the world. Juárez actively collaborates with the press, notably as a current columnist for EFE Verde and the environmental newspaper ECOticias.
Ángela Barranco
Managing Director for North America at Climate Group |Ángela has over two decades of experience, including several years in campaign management in the U.S. and leadership in working on solutions focused on clean energy and the protection of national monuments. She was the Undersecretary of the California Natural Resources Agency and served as Executive Director of River LA, Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Associate Director of Public Engagement at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. She is currently the Executive Director for North America at Climate Group, an international nonprofit organization aimed at achieving a world with net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Anoshka Irey
Indigenous leader and activist |Anoshka is a prominent Indigenous leader who advocates internationally for women's rights in the context of the climate crisis. She is recognized as a tireless fighter against the advance of extractive and infrastructure fronts that threaten the integrity of the Amazon. Anoshka is part of the board of FENAMAD, a federation that represents the 37 Indigenous communities of the Madre de Dios River basin in Perú.
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.
Audrey Peral
Director of Chispa Nevada |As a young girl, Audrey experienced the resource disparities that immigrant working families face, and now she is dedicated to creating a better future for her son and her community. Driven by her passion for helping others, she focuses her social work on intersectional issues, such as environmental and economic equity that negatively impact immigrant communities.
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.
Bryan Parras
Leader of the Indigenous Rights and Protected Areas Campaign in North America |Bryan is the Co-founder of Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Services, he is a prominent activist addressing the intersectional issues affecting the Latino community in Houston. He is known for his work in building coalitions, networks, and successful campaigns in the environmental and climate justice movement, as well as for organizing delegations, caravans, and symposiums that mobilize for action. His success as a change agent lies in his work with grassroots communities rooted in culture and collaboration.
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.
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.
Catalina Droguett
Climate journalist |For the past 15 years, Catalina has dedicated herself to raising awareness and motivating citizen action in Chile and Latin America. She is the host of the pioneering radio and television program “Chile Sustentable,” which has a 12-year history. Notable as a developer of digital content on sustainability and founder of the “Mujer Sustentable” platform, the first network in Chile and Latin America aimed at informing, educating, and motivating women for a more sustainable world.
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.
Christiana Figueres
Climate Change Global leader |Christiana is an internationally recognized leader in global climate change. She served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016. She successfully led the Conference of the Parties in Cancun 2010, Durban 2011, Doha 2012, Warsaw 2013, and Lima 2014, culminating her efforts with the historic Paris Agreement of 2015. Throughout her tenure, she brought together diverse governments, businesses, activists, institutions, and communities to jointly reach an unprecedented agreement on climate change. For this achievement, Ms. Figueres has been recognized as a pioneer of a new kind of collaborative diplomacy.
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.
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.
Cynthia Burgos López
Co-founder of The Maraña|Cynthia has a degree in agronomy, a master’s in landscape architecture, and 15 years of experience holding various roles on the path to a more just and sustainable Puerto Rico in the face of displacement and climate change. In 2014, she co-founded La Maraña to support grassroots community projects focused on activating abandoned spaces and restoring citizen participation in urban areas. Today, La Maraña is a non-profit organization that supports communities in just transition projects, promoting the inclusion of Puerto Rican voices in the creation of cities and communities.
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.
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.
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.
Eric Terena
Journalist and founding member of Mídia Indígena |Eric is a journalist and founding member of Mídia Indígena, an Indigenous communication collective. He is a member of Youth4Climate, and at the United Nations Climate Change conferences he was responsible for audiovisual coverage of the participation of Indigenous leaders of Brazil. He is also a world-renowned Indigenous DJ who has collaborated with DJ Alok and others.
Esteban Gast
Colombian-American Comedian And Educator|Esteban was born to Colombian immigrants in New Jersey, grew up in Puerto Rico and Illinois, and currently lives in Los Angeles. He's the creator and host of various podcasts, television shows, and projects including Identity at Play, a Spotigy original podcast focused on interviewing Latin American movers and shakers. He is the co-creator of Climate Cultura, a program bringing Latinx creatives into the climate conversation. He travels as a standup comedian and performer and has been profiled on ABC, VICE, and NPR.
Estefany Carrasco-González
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.
Federico Ríos
Photographer and photojournalist|Federico is a widely published photographer and photojournalist whose work has addressed the armed conflict in Colombia, the environment, and its relationship with society. He has won awards, including a Jury Award at Days Japan (2017) and the Hansel-Mieth-Preiss (2019). His most recent photobook, VERDE, compiles Federico Rios's documentary work photographing the FARC guerrilla in the mountains of Colombia. His work frequently appears in The New York Times and other media, including Stern, GEO, Time, Paris Match, and LFI Magazine.
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.
Francisco Lara
Climate activist|Francisco is a consultant and project director addressing issues ranging from ocean and climate action to community initiatives. With extensive experience in international climate policy, program development and implementation, evaluation, and youth training, Francis stands out for his skillful tracking of project outcomes, communications, and political engagement strategies.
Francisco Vera
UNICEF Latin America's First Climate Action Advocate|Francisco is the first youth advocate for the environment and climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean appointed by UNICEF, aiming to promote environmental education and participation among children and adolescents. He is an activist and advocate for the right to a healthy environment and has dedicated years to education through the group "Guardians for Life." Thanks to his presence on social media, a virtual program for environmental activism, and a network of schools, Francisco amplifies his fight for climate action, children's rights, climate justice, and human rights.
Gabriela Casuso
Founder Proyecto Acuática|Gabriela is a founder and leader of Proyecto Acuática, an initiative created in 2018 when Gabriela was 10 years old. A this age she learned there was plenty of false information circulating on ocean issues, so she developed a method through social media to change the situation. Five years later, with all her experience creating digital content in Proyecto Acuática and as a Change Agent for the Relato Océano Network, Gabriela realized that ignorance persists and that it is necessary to accelerate the connection with oceanic culture from childhood to adolescence through education.
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.
Guillermo “Pirry” Prieto La Rotta
Journalist and activist |Guillermo is a Colombian journalist, documentary filmmaker, photographer, and writer. After 16 years in Colombian television, he is now an environmental lover and protector. Extreme sports have always been his fascination, which is why, through activities like skydiving, climbing, hiking, and diving, he tells stories, defending and giving voice to those who do not have it, and his main motivator is his love for Planet Earth.
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.
Isatis Cintrón
Director Climate Trace Puerto Rico|Isatis is a Puerto Rican climate scientist studying the chemistry, transport, and impacts of air pollutants on the cryosphere and Small Island Developing States. She has a long track record of community organizing and capacity building in Latin America and the Caribbean region, focusing on climate governance and ethics to expand the civic space at the UNFCCC and national levels. She works at the intersection of science, governance, and civic diplomacy, building bridges between citizens, policymakers, and scientists.
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.
Jesús Hidalgo
Singer-songwriter and producer of Medicine Music|Jesús is a Venezuelan singer who has reached the hearts of many with his six albums. He has organized forums related to climate change in different cities in the U.S. and Mexico. He is the co-founder of the International Festival of Medicine Music: “Todo El Mundo Dice Aho,” an itinerant festival that brings together different artistic disciplines with a solid connection and commitment to the care of Mother Earth. He actively collaborated with the “Conscious World Pact” and ChaskiFest, performing conscious music concerts throughout Latin America.
Jorge Neri
Director of Cambio16|Jorge is a lawyer and member of the editorial board of the digital and print editions of Cambio16, Energía16, and Cambio Financiero magazine. He has extensive experience in journalism, as well as in the legal, financial, and corporate leadership fields. Jorge received the Defense of Democracy and the Rule of Law Award from the World Jurist Association and the World Law Congress. He is a member of the ARI Magazines Association and the New York State Bar Association.
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 David Amaya
Co-founder of the climate movement Life of Pachamama| Juan David stands out as a pivotal figure in the field of climate justice and human rights, his work reflects a deep interconnection between environmental stewardship and strategic action. As Associate Director and Co-founder of the climate movement Life of Pachamama, he has been a pioneer in creating initiatives, accessing funding, and ensuring equitable participation in various decision-making arenas. In Colombia, his work as Climate Advisor for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Child Rights International Network reflects his commitment to future generations, advocating for the inclusion of youth in decision-making and public policy formulation.
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.
Lena González
Member of the California State Senate|Lena is a state senator, she represents nearly 1 million residents in Southeast Los Angeles, Signal Hill, parts of South Los Angeles, Lakewood, and her hometown of Long Beach. She stands out as a strong voice for working families, advocating to improve working conditions and elevating the voices of all workers. She prioritizes and fights for a clean environment, digital inclusion, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, and the economic vitality of small businesses, among other policy areas.
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.
Lorena Arroyo
Editor in Chief of America FuturaLorena is a journalist with over a decade of experience in Spain and Latin America. Throughout her career, she has successfully combined her two passions: storytelling and Latin America. She has worked for international agencies and as a correspondent in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and La Paz (Bolivia) covering current events in the U.S. with a focus on Hispanic communities, immigration, and relations with Latin America. Her work has been recognized with various awards, including the World Press Photo, and she has been part of the official selection for the Gabriel García Márquez Journalism Awards.
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.
Lucia Lopreiato
Director EcoNewsLucia holds a degree in social communications studies, and has over 15 years of experience in Argentina's most important media outlets. She worked as a producer and led political and judicial investigations. In 2019, she moved to Spain, where she completed a Master's in Organizational Communication and has worked as an investigative journalist. She is currently the director of EcoNews.
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."
Marco Martinez
Coordinator of Territories and Natural Resources of COICA|Marco is the leader of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin, an international convergence of Indigenous organizations that acts on behalf of 511 Indigenous Peoples, of which approximately 66 are Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact.
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.
Marta Montojo Torrente
Environmental journalist EFE|Marta is a journalist from the Complutense University of Madrid specializing in environment and climate change. Since 2021, she has been working for the EFE news agency, where she writes about environmental policy, biodiversity loss, climate crisis, social movements, and ecological transition, among other topics.
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.”
Miguel Ángel Oliver
President EFE Agency | Miguel Angel is a renowned journalist who served as Secretary of State for Communications for the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez where he advocated for the environmental specialization of communicators, promoting scholarships for environmental journalism. Since December 2023 he has been the president of the EFE Agency.
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 Lever
Manager for Mexico and Latin America The Climate Reality Project|Natalia is the branch manager for Mexico and Latin America of The Climate Reality Project. She founded and served as the executive director of VERDE AC, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental education. She has extensive experience in the development of sustainable local businesses and has focused on combating poverty and malnutrition in Mexico City and its surrounding regions. She has worked with renewable energies and green technologies for over five years, bringing new alternatives for sustainable agriculture and energy supply to vulnerable communities. She is an expert in sustainable development and a passionate advocate for the environment with an entrepreneurial spirit and business skills.
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.
Niria Alicia Garcia
Environmental activist | Niria is a prominent human rights advocate, community organizer for climate justice, educator, and storyteller dedicated to protecting the sanctity of Mother Earth and the dignity of historically oppressed peoples. In 2019, her work for climate justice earned her the national “Emerging Leader Award” from GreenLatinos and the international “EE 30 under 30” award from the North American Association for Environmental Education. In 2020, she was recognized as a UNEP Young Champion of the Earth.
Olivia Bisa Tirko
President of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Chapra Nation in Peru | Olivia is an activist known for challenging centuries-old patriarchal norms by becoming the first woman to serve as president of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Chapra Nation at just thirty-five years old. She is a sociologist with a master’s degree in Human Rights in Spain. Her courageous stance and successful actions against the destructive impacts of the oil industry serve as a beacon of hope and resilience in the fight for environmental justice and gender equality in the Amazon and beyond. She is a mother of two.
Olivia Mandle
Animal rights activist and climate advocate |Olivia is an animal rights activist and climate warrior, who fights for the rights of marine animals and dreams of a plastic-free Mediterranean Sea. She leads a campaign on Change.org #Noespaisparadelfines to end dolphin parks in Spain. She is an EU Climate Pact Ambassador, a National Geographic Storyteller, a WILD Foundation's Marine Ambassador, and an Ambassador for the "La España Azul" project by explorer Nacho Dean. She was recognized with an International Award from the Jane Goodall Institute Global for her campaigns.
Palmiro Ocampo Grey
Chef promoter of sustainable gastronomy | Palmiro is deeply impacted by the tons of daily food waste, so he investigates and shares how to make the most out of resources. Reducing the impact through food conservation, and culinary recycling. He is an ambassador for WWF Peru and Zero Hunger for the World Food Program. Co-founder of CCORI COCINA ÓPTIMA, an organization dedicated to the research and development of educational programs in food optimization for community kitchens.
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 Ermecheo
Founder of Osomtex & Osom Brand | Patricia transformed clothing that would traditionally end up in landfills into a new textile material for reuse. Her materials have been used in Nike's "Space Hippie" sneaker line, as well as to make the U.S. team uniform for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In this way, Patricia helps keep the seas and rivers cleaner while optimizing and eliminating water usage in textile processes.
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).
Rita El Zaghloul
Director of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People |Rita leads an intergovernmental group of over 100 countries advocating for a global agreement for nature and people. She is the driving force behind the HAC's 30×30 campaign, aimed at halting the accelerated global loss of species and protecting vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security. She was the coordinator of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature representing Costa Rica at the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy, as well as the Minister Counselor and Advisor for International Relations at the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations.
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.
Rudy Zamora
Advocacy Director Chicanos Por La Causa |Rudy serves as the Director of Community Support for the nonprofit organization Chicanos por la Causa in Nevada. He has worked for over 15 years in groups dedicated to promoting causes ranging from immigration to environmental care. His son's health issues are his primary motivation to raise awareness about environmental issues and advocate for greater climate justice for all.
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.
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.
Susana Muhamad
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia|With a degree in Political Science and a renowned environmentalist, she has been serving as Colombia's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development since August 7, 2022. She is the president of the UN Biodiversity Summit COP16 in Cali, Colombia, and a leading voice in promoting the phase-out of fossil fuels in Colombia, the Amazon, and globally.
Teresa Ribera
Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of Spain | Teresa is recognized for her work as Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. She is a member of the Global Commission on the Geopolitics of Energy Transformation of the International Renewable Energy Agency. And has served on the advisory board of the Stockholm Environment Institute and the global leadership council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. She currently serves as the Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge in the Government of Spain.
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.
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.
Xiuhtezcatl Martínez
Eco-artist and founder of the Xavier Cortada FoundationXiuhtezcatl uses art and his musical creations to address issues of climate justice and equity. He is recognized as a prominent activist, model, entrepreneur, and cross-cultural icon. He challenges the limits of the music industry to use art as a means to confront systems of injustice and reimagine the future.
Xiye Bastida
Climate justice activist | Xiye is a climate justice activist and member of the Otomi-Toltec Indigenous community in central Mexico. She is an organizer, author, speaker, and student striving to make the climate movement more inclusive and diverse. Xiye grew up in a small town called San Pedro Tultepec and moved to New York in 2015 when her parents secured a job at the Center for Earth Ethics. From the Big Apple, Xiye became deeply involved with the existing climate movement, attending her first United Nations climate conference in February 2017. Her involvement led her to receive the UN Spirit Award in 2018.
Yacqueline Montecinos
Marine Biodiversity Conservation Manager at WWF-Chile | Yacqueline is a marine biologist specializing in biodiversity, conservation, and management. She is known for working closely with governments, scientists, and national and international NGOs to protect cetaceans through the design and promotion of various conservation strategies, such as developing a proposal for a network of marine protected areas in the Patagonian region and promoting maritime traffic regulation. She has been involved in coordinating the Pacific Blue Corridor project, which improves the management of migratory whales in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Yana Garcia
Secretary of Environmental Protection CalEPA | Yana was appointed California Secretary for Environmental Protection by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2022. As Secretary, she oversees the state’s efforts to fight climate change, protect air and water quality, regulate pesticides and toxic substances, achieve the state’s recycling and waste reduction goals, and advance environmental justice. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, she advises the Governor on environmental policy. Yana is nationally recognized as a groundbreaking environmental leader who has worked hard to uplift the voices of those from disadvantaged communities.
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.
Yoca Arditi – Rocha
Executive Director The CLEO Institute | Yoca is a biologist specialized in Corporate Sustainability and the Executive Director of The CLEO Institute in Florida, focused on creating climate resilience and mobilizing climate action for a fair, safe, and healthy environment for all. Before joining CLEO, she was the founder and Executive Director of No Planet B, a consultancy with a core advocacy focus on carbon footprint inventories, climate action planning, sustainable events, climate literacy, and corporate sustainability capacity building in South Florida and Latin America.
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