#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
VP Programs and Equity US Energy Foundation|Adrianna fights for a clean and equitable energy future. She was part of the Biden-Harris Transition Team for the U.S. Department of Energy. She worked as an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she focused on litigation and investigations related to environmental health issues such as drinking water safety, pesticide use, and air quality. Lastly, she founded Voces Verdes, a national coalition of Latino leaders advocating for clean energy and climate action.
Alejandro Agag
President Formula E Holdings|As founder and Chairman of Formula E, Alejandro 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 aims to raise awareness of water conservation.
Alexandra Narváez
Ecuadorian Activist|Alexandra Narvaez led an indigenous movement to protect her people's ancestral territory from gold mining. Her leadership resulted in a historic legal victory in October 2018, when Ecuadorian courts canceled 52 illegal gold mining concessions, which were illegally granted without the consent of her Cofán community. The community's legal success protects 79,000 acres of pristine, biodiverse rainforest in the headwaters of Ecuador's Aguarico River.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Congress Woman District 14 Nueva York|Representative for New York's 14th congressional district and leader of the Green New Deal, a non-binding resolution laying out the main elements of an "economic mobilization" that would phase out the use of fossil fuels and reshape the nation's infrastructure.
Alexandria Villaseñor
Co-Founder Earth Uprising|Villaseñor is a co-founder of the US Youth Climate Strike and founder of Earth Uprising - a platform that supports and accelerates the youth climate movement while providing resources and opportunities to educate each other on the climate crisis. Villaseñor's fight for climate action was sparked when she was caught in a cloud of smoke from the November 2018 Camp Fire in California during a family visit.
Alicia Cahuiya
President of the Waorani Nationality of Ecuador (NAWE) |Alicia is a key figure in the struggle of Ecuadorian Amazonian women to defend their rainforest and the rights of native peoples. Alicia, or 'Hueya', as her closest friends call her, has four children, grew up with her grandparents, and her name means "guardian of the water".
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
General Director of Latino Climate Power en Acción|Bilingual communications specialist with deep experience in Hispanic and Latin American political issues at the national and local levels. She is the director of Climate Power en Acción, where she provides a proactive and dynamic perspective on how climate change affects the lives of millions of Latinos in the United States. She is a spokesperson for national and statewide media outlets and is in charge of increasing climate coverage in the media.
Artemisa Xakriabá
Indigenous Environmental Leader|She is a Brazilian human rights activist. A leader of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, her work focuses on the protection of the Amazon rainforest. She has expressed the problems suffered by her community in the struggle to protect their territory from environmental damage caused by mining. She was also part of a group of young people who demanded solutions from the United States Congress in Washington. With determination, she managed to reach several US senators and representatives to present an open letter from the indigenous peoples that make up the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities.
Ati Viviam Villafaña
Political Scientist and Environmental Leader|Ati is a young Arhuaca woman who has participated in different global meetings, raising awareness of indigenous peoples and the urgency to act against the climate crisis. She also works in the consolidation of the Youth School for Climate Action and is recognized as one of the 100 Powerful Women of Forbes Colombia 2023.
Belén Páez
President Fundación Pachamama|An Ecuadorian ecologist and specialist in Climate Change, the amazon, and Indigenous Peoples' Rights. she is the secretary general of the Amazon Sacred Watersheds Initiative, which seeks to protect 35 million hectares in collaboration with multiple indigenous groups. For 25 years, Paez has led the implementation of programs based on forest economies, ecotourism, renewable energies, conservation of fragile ecosystems, and legal actions in defense of nature and climate justice.
Bertha Zuñiga
Coordinating Committee of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH)|Honduran social activist of Lenca descent, an Amerindian people who inhabited southern, central, and western Honduras and the border area of El Salvador. She is the general coordinator of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH). She works against the installation 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|In October 2020, Carlos Eduardo Correa was appointed as Colombia's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development. A position in which 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
Defender of the Amazon and Scientific Ambassador of Brazil|Carlos is a leading climatologist and Amazon advocate. He has been recognized worldwide for his contributions to climate change research and Amazon conservation. Recently, he was elected to The Royal Society, becoming the first Brazilian to be so honored since the 19th century. He was a member of the International Panel on Climate Change, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. In addition, in 2013, he joined the UN Scientific Advisory Board for Global Sustainability. He has held key positions in the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation and, since 2019.
Carlos Vives
Songwriter and Environmentalist|In addition to being an internationally renowned singer-songwriter and actor, Carlos Vives 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, where he lends his name, passion, and influence to the mission of raising awareness about the problem of plastic pollution.
Carmen Busquets
Entrepreneur, strategic investor and philanthropist|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 the earth’s natural resources, in sustainable economic development, and in providing education and human rights for all. Carmen is on the Board of Glasswing International, Nest and Parsons School of Design, and 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
Vicepresident WGI IPCC|She is vice-chair of the working group of the UN IPCC program, a member of the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization. Dr. Vera has a long experience in research on understanding, simulating, and predicting climate variability. She is the Director of the Argentine-French Institute for Climate Studies and its Science, jointly sponsored by the University of Buenos Aires, the National Science Council of Argentina, and the National Center for Scientific Research.
Celia Xakriaba
Indigenous Leader and Federal Deputy of Brazil|Federal Deputy of Brasil and co-founder of ANMIGA (National Association of Ancestral Indigenous Women Warriors/ Anmiga (Asociación Nacional de Mujeres Indígenas Guerreras de Ancestralidad).). 2023 Alnoba Foundation International Indigenous Leadership Awardee.Educator and indigenous activist from the Xakriabá people of Brazil. In 2015 he became the first person of indigenous descent to represent his ethnic group in the Department of Education of Minas Gerais, and frequently holds conferences and debates at universities in Brazil focused on indigenous rights and promoting the revitalization of indigenous communities.
Christina Mittermeier
Writer, Conservationist and Photographer|She is a photographer and marine biologist. In 2014 he co-founded Sea Legacy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the ocean, with his partner, Canadian photographer Paul Nicklen. Christina's work has been published in hundreds of publications, including National Geographic, McLean's, and TIME magazine. In 2010, Mittermeier received the Mission Award from the North American Nature Photography Association and the Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award.
Claudia Bahamón
Model, Presenter and Activist|She 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
Director of nature-based solutions at Bezos Earth Fund.|He was president of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for a decade, overseeing the largest network of urban wildlife parks. He was the Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and was 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
Marine Biologist|Daniel is the founder and leader of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Hub in Peru and co-founder of the Taking Care of the Ocean collective. He has worked on multiple marine biodiversity and conservation projects, from connecting with humpback whales to recording new reefs in northern Peru. In 2016, he won the Hreljac Medal for being the youngest man with the greatest impact on National Sustainable Development, and in 2017 he won the Agent of Change award from the Scientific University of the South.
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
Funder and CEO Sustainable Ocean Alliance|At the age of 19, Daniela founded the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Five years later, SOA created the world's largest network of young ocean leaders in over 150 countries and launched the first Ocean Solutions Accelerator to support the development of technology solutions to address the biggest threats facing our oceans. She has served as a keynote speaker at events such as The Economist World Ocean Summit, the World Climate Summit, the Global Convocation of Mayors, the United Nations, and U.S. Capitol Hill Ocean Week, among others.
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 the development of 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 of UPROSE|A national leader in the climate justice movement and co-chair of the Climate Justice Alliance. She is the executive director of UPROSE, Brooklyn's oldest Latino community organization. Pioneer of 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
National Director of Chispa|Estefany fights for a healthier world for Latino communities and people of color. Her background is in social movement building and community organizing. She has conducted outreach to mobilize and engage 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 and Co-Founder of Latino Victory|Longoria is a co-founder of the organization Latino Victory Project, which launched the Vote Like a Madre campaign. Through the campaign, they managed to get 40,000 Latinas to the polls in Arizona and Florida. The Vote Like a Madre movement recognizes the urgency of the climate crisis and its impacts on communities.
Fany Kuiru
Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)|Indigenous leader, expert in legal and political advice in public policy between the national government and ethnic peoples, women 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.
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
Senior Director for International Climate Policy at American Progress|She leads a program that drives international actions that meet global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. Colón is a former Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State, where she promoted the integration of science and technology in foreign policy dialogues, the global advancement of women in science, and climate policy for the United States Energy and Climate Alliance.
Gisele Bündchen
Model and Environmental Activist|Bündchen has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program since 2009, participating in causes that defend biodiversity and wildlife. Bündchen is a global environmentalist, best-selling author, philanthropist and supermodel. She is known for her long-standing and passionate commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation.
Gonzalo Muñoz
United Nations High-Level Climate Action Champion COP25|Partner en Manuia, TriCiclos y Polkura. Cofundador SistemaB. United Nations High-Level Climate Action Champion COP25. Miembro del Club of Rome. 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 the Chilean national awards for environment, innovation, and social entrepreneurship.
Gustavo Manrique
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador|Manrique 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. 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|Argentine politician and economist. He is the current mayor of Buenos Aires, where 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|Burga 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|He leads an environmental education platform where he uses social media and creative strategies to develop climate literacy. He seeks to provide a safe space for environmentalists by using illustrations, videos, and writing to tell climate stories. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Jonathan Herzfeld
Chief Executive Officer fiiS|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, it spreads and increases the likelihood of more and better partnerships between organizations and citizens.
Jorge Pérez Rubio
Indigenous Leader from the Murui Community|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 Latino Outdoors |González is the founder of Latino Outdoors. He is an environmental educator, often exploring the intersection between environment and culture. As a partner of the Avarna Group and through his own consultancy, his work focuses on equity and inclusion frameworks and practices on environmental and conservation issues.
José Ignacio Sánchez Galán
Chief Executive Officer of Iberdrola|He is president and CEO of Iberdrola, and president of the subholding companies of the Iberdrola group in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Brazil. Harvard Business Review selected him among the five best CEOs in the world. The commitment to solid and sustainable industrial projects; the promotion of good corporate governance; and the commitment to solid ethical and professional values have been the pillars of Galán's management throughout his professional career.
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|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, an organization that protects and defends the biocultural and climatic integrity of the Amazon rainforest. For over 25 years Leila has worked to defend the world's rainforests, human rights, and the climate through grassroots organizing and international campaigns.
Liz Chicaje Churay
Indigenous Peruvian Leader|As a mother, she began traveling with her children to defend her community from logging and illegal mining. She has become an essential figure in the fight to protect the Peruvian Amazon and the people who inhabit it. In 2021, the Goldman Foundation presented her with one of its six annual awards for her efforts to protect the region for more than 20 years.
Lourdes Inga
Executive Director International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP)|Lourdes has more than two decades of experience in international philanthropy, foundations, and non-profit organizations dedicated to safeguarding indigenous rights, gender equity, and social justice. Lourdes is the Executive Director of IFIP, working to expand indigenous philanthropy, promoting the creation of indigenous-led funds, and advocating for greater funding resources for indigenous peoples.
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 and President of Natura Cosmetics|Over 20 years ago, Luiz Seabra created Natura, an organization that works in fair trade with communities in Brazil and, in particular, in the Amazon region. Through local partnerships, Natura Cosmetics contributes to increasing the income of more than 2,000 families of small local Brazilian farmers, totaling around 8,500 people.
Maisa Rojas
Minister of the Environment of Chile|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 degree from Columbia University, United States. She was the coordinator of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change and lead author of the paleoclimate chapter of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Maite Arce
Founder of the Hispanic Access Foundation|Founder of the Hispanic Access Foundation, Maite stands out for having developed innovative outreach strategies that mobilize underrepresented populations. Work closely with faith-based and community leaders to design and carry out data and results-driven outreach initiatives. She served as Vice President of Operations for the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options, and throughout her career has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Latino communities and the environment.
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš
Founder and CEO of Azul|Marce works with the Latino community to protect coasts and oceans. Through his work, she has helped design and implement a statewide network of marine protected areas, as well as a sustainability and marketing program for local California fisheries. As a leader of the campaign to ban single-use plastic bags in California, she has worked to reduce marine pollution and protect ocean wildlife.
Marcelo Mena
Executive Director Global Methane HUB and Chilean Politician|As a minister, he 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|Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Maria worked for 11 years 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.
Maria Elena Gutierrez
Director Amazon Conservation (ACCA)|Maria is an industrial engineer with a Master's degree in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland, USA. She has 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 Andradre
Indigenous Leader and Amazon Protector |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, demonstrating the importance of including youth voices in global discussions. She works hard to preserve their ancestral cosmovision, protect their territories, and keep alive the transmission of knowledge and spirituality that has characterized her people.
Maruxa Cardama
Secretary General of SLOCAT|For more than 20 years, she 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. 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 and President of Eco House Global|Máximo Mazzocco is the founder and president of Eco House Global, a non-profit organization specializing in developing programs and initiatives related to education, policy making, communication, consulting, and ecological restoration. He was selected as a UN Youth Leader, declared Outstanding Personality of the City of Buenos Aires, and one of the 10 young people of the year by JCI International.
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
Goldman Environmental Prize 2022 - People no Pozos |Nalleli grew up in South Los Angeles and launched her activism when she was 9 years old after noticing foul odors emanating from the oil well across the street from her home. Cobo led a coalition to permanently close a toxic oil drilling site in his community in March 2020, at the age of 19. She co-founded People not Pozos, which works to ensure safe and healthy neighborhoods.
Natalia Greene
Director of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature-GARN.|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 Waorani Leader and Defender of the Yasuni Rainforest Woman|As a Waorani woman, she fights for the defense of indigenous territories, equal rights, and tirelessly promotes the financial independence of her community. She was vice president of the Waorani Nationality in 2017, and currently works with women in training schools, promoting ancestral medicine, and developing comprehensive education plans for future generations. She is part of CONFENIAE, a regional indigenous organization that represents about 1,500 communities belonging to various Amazonian nationalities.
Nemonte Nemquimo
Indigenous activist and member of the Waorani Nation |Co-founder of Alianza Ceibo, she is the first female president of the Wuaorani of Pastaza. She was been awarded several recognitions, including the Goldman Environmental Prize, she was the only indigenous woman on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and she was included in the BBC's 100 women. The United Nations Environment Program awarded her the “Champions of the Earth” award in the “Action and Inspiration” category.
Nina Gualinga
Indigenous Environmental and Human Rights Activist from the Kichwa de Sarayaku Community|Young indigenous leader of the Kichwa community of Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Since she was eight years old, she has been actively involved in local, national, and global efforts in defense of indigenous rights and territories in the Amazon rainforest.
Papa Francisco
Head of the Catholic Church|Through his encyclical 'Praise be to you', the Pope promotes awareness about the care of the common home and holds the world economic system responsible for bringing humanity to the brink of collapse. In his opinion, the voracity of market capitalism and the "god" of money are leading humanity to the contamination of the human soul and the corrosion of its spirit.
Patricia Gualinga
Kichwa Indigenous Leader and Forest Defender Woman |Co-Founder of Mujeres Amazonicas Defensoras de la Selva and President of Fundación Tiam to bio if possible.Patricia is a Kichwa leader in the Ecuadorian Amazon. For years, Patricia has been at the forefront of the Sarayaku struggle, a key player in the recent historic victory for indigenous rights at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and an incredible leader of a rapidly growing movement of women defenders in the Amazon.
Paula Caballero
The Nature Conservancy Regional General Director for Latin America|She leads a team of more than 300 employees in 16 countries, from Mexico to Argentina, to deliver bold new strategies and partnerships to conserve the world's most biodiverse region. She is recognized for creating the concept of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is considered a "blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all."
Puyr Tembe
Lider Indigena y Presidenta de Federation of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Para |lead protagonist and producer of "We Are Guardians" film.She has managed to transcend the struggle 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 strategic position to advocate for indigenous causes. Puyr is a member of the executive arm of the Union of Indigenous Women of the Brazilian Amazon, an organization that brings together courageous women willing to defend their traditions, lands, and rights.
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|He is considered a central figure behind the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, an ambitious county program for planned land use and biodiversity conservation. Grijalva introduced the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act to modernize federal ocean management policy to account for climate change. It fights to limit climate impacts on marine habitats and helps boost Arctic conservation efforts.
Rosario Dawson
Actress and Activist|Her activism is central to nearly every project she undertakes. In 2018, she produced and narrated "The Need to Grow", a documentary based on the terrifying premise that we only have 60 years of arable land left. She co-founded Voto Latino, an organization that promotes civic engagement among Latino voters and highlights the ways in which our changing climate directly affects Latino communities.
Sebastián Navarro
Secretary-General of CC35|He is the first Secretary General of the Coalition of Capital Cities of the Americas against Climate Change (CC35). The organization facilitates collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve an accelerated impact of the Paris Agreement through the leadership of the mayors of the capital cities of the Americas.
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.
Sônia Bone de Souza Silva Santos
Minister of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs of Brazil|Sônia 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|As 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.
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 of the Rio Grande International Studies Center|She currently serves as Executive Director of Laredo's only environmental nonprofit. Her focus is on water security and river restoration, sustainable development, habitat and green space protection, climate justice, grassroots cultural organizing, and improvements in the quality of life for South Texas border residents.
Vanessa Hauc
Journalist and Director Planeta Tierra Telemundo|She is an Emmy award-winning journalist and current senior correspondent for Telemundo News. Currently, she leads Telemundo's environmental research unit under the name "Planeta Tierra". She co-founded Sachamama or "Madre Selva", a non-profit organization that seeks to inspire, empower and educate the Latino community about climate change and sustainable lifestyles.
Wrays Pérez
Wampís Indigenous leader and Environmental Defender|Wrays was the regional councilor of 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 wise men, he led the territorial defense of the nation, indigenous rights, and the protection of watersheds against illegal mining.
Xavier Cortada
Environmental Artist|Xavier is a professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Miami and the inaugural artist-in-residence of Miami-Dade County.Cortada educates and inspires community members to work and learn together to solve environmental problems, promoting deep conceptual engagement with his participants, and exploring climate change themes to generate awareness and action around environmental and social justice issues.
Yessenia Funes
Climate Director ATMOS|Environmental journalist who focuses on the intersection of race and the environment. She was previously a lead reporter for Earther and was on staff at Colorlines and YES! magazine. Her writing focuses on environmental and climate justice, and she aims to center her stories on the most marginalized and vulnerable communities. She has been covering climate change for nearly eight years.