Sophia Kianni is a climate activist, founder and executive director of the international non-profit Climate Cardinals. Kianni, 22, is the youngest member of the UN climate change advisory group.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has a unique ability to listen carefully, understand diverse perspectives, and inspire others to take climate action.
At age 18, I was invited by António to represent the United States as the youngest member of the first United Nations Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
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I have seen first-hand that António is a climate leader deeply committed to tackling global challenges through inclusive and innovative approaches. His decision to create this group demonstrates his belief in the power of young people to bring about meaningful change.
His dedication to environmental justice and sustainability is evident in his strategic initiatives and how he engages with all stakeholders, from global leaders to local activists.
Under his leadership, I learned the importance of inclusiveness and the value of diverse voices in climate decision-making processes. His commitment to empowering young people is evident in his letter inviting me to join the youth advisory group. He explained to me that “climate change is ultimately an issue of youth and intergenerational justice.”
He added: “What started as an individual protest has become a global movement. Young people around the world are making their voices heard and the UN is listening. »
António’s early career accomplishments are inspiring. Beginning his political career in his mid-twenties, he quickly became known for his visionary approach. This resonates deeply with me as a young leader, highlighting the impact young people can have when given the opportunity and platform to lead.
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My experience as a young advisor to the United Nations taught me the importance of collaboration in global policymaking. It gave me a better understanding of the complexities of international diplomacy and the importance of perseverance and resilience in driving systemic change.
As part of my role, I worked directly with the UN Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, to consult with various groups representing the global youth climate movement. I had the opportunity to co-chair the first ever Youth4Climate summit organized by the Italian government before the COP. As co-chair, I brought together 400 young people from over 100 countries; we drafted formal policy resolutions which I presented to ministers from over 40 countries, including John Kerry.
Additionally, as a U.S. Representative, I hosted a consultation to identify the top environmental priorities that American youth wanted to communicate to educate the nation about the urgency of the climate crisis. We synthesized the findings from 100 young people from 40 states. I now work with the United Nations Foundation as the first-ever advisor to UNA-USA.
It was a privilege to demonstrate the importance of having young people at the decision-making table when it comes to solving the biggest problem of our time.
The first seeds for The cardinals of climate were sown when I recognized the significant gap in climate education resources accessible to non-English speakers. This comes from my experiences translating climate information for my relatives in Iran.
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Witnessing the challenges of understanding critical climate issues due to language barriers inspired me to create a platform that could bridge this gap. Climate Cardinals was born out of a desire to make climate education inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of language.
Over the past few years, we have raised funds to hire full-time staff and grown to 10,000 volunteers in 80 countries. We recently partnered with Google as one of their first youth-led grantees and tested their new AI/ML tools to automate our translations.
With their help, we have now translated more than 500,000 words of resources into more than 40 languages for partners including the Yale Center for Climate Communications and the United Nations Development Program.
One of the key challenges we face is ensuring the sustainability and scalability of our translation efforts. My aspiration is to become a global leader in climate education and leverage advanced technologies, such as AI, to improve our translation capabilities and reach.
My journey has taught me that age should never be a barrier to making a difference. When I started Climate Cardinals, I was just a teenager with a vision and had no idea it would become an international movement.
The key is to start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. Surround yourself with people who support you and believe in your vision and never be afraid to ask for help. Remember that every little action counts and collectively we can make a big difference.
Young leaders bring a sense of urgency, creativity and long-term vision that are essential to tackling the climate crisis.
It is also essential to be able to speak out as a young leader. It is young people who will inherit the consequences of decisions made today. It is therefore essential that our views and ideas are taken into account in policy-making processes.
Watch: Sophia Kianni makes climate crisis resources accessible to everyone
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