Climate Cardinals
 | |
| Founded | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sophia Kianni |
| Type | Youth-led organization |
| Purpose | Climate education and translation |
Region served | Worldwide |
Executive Director | Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa |
| Volunteers | 16,000+ |
| Website | Climate Cardinals |
Climate Cardinals is a global, youth-led organization focused on making climate action accessible to non-English speakers through translation and education. Its mission is to empower youth and the global majority of 6.5 billion non-English speakers to lead climate solutions.[1][2]
Since its founding in 2020, Climate Cardinals has mobilized over 16,000 volunteers across 134 countries, trained 200 young leaders in nonprofit operations, and translated million of words of climate-related content into 105+ languages. The organization has reached approximately 11 million people worldwide.
History
[edit]Climate Cardinals was founded in 2020 by Sophia Kianni, a climate activist and the youngest-ever United Nations advisor on climate change. The idea emerged after Kianni visited Iran, where her relatives had little access to climate information in their native language. She discovered that most climate research is published in English, despite the fact that the majority of the world’s population does not speak it fluently.[3][4]
What began as a small volunteer effort quickly grew into a global initiative. Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa, a founding team member, played a key role in developing the organization’s structured programs and later became Climate Cardinals’ first full-time Executive Director.[5]
Climate Cardinals has collaborated with institutions such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and the UN Environment Programme and has received funding from Google.org to support its translation work.[6][7]
Programs and activities
[edit]Translation Initiative
[edit]Climate Cardinals translates climate information into more than 105 languages, working with volunteers and professional translators. It prioritizes free translations for grassroots organizations while offering affordable services for larger institutions, using proceeds to support youth-led climate education.[8][9]
Chapters Program
[edit]The organization operates a network of more than 200 student-led chapters in 35 countries, with 81% located in the Global South. These chapters focus on local climate education, advocacy, and action tailored to community needs.[10]
Youth Fellows Program
[edit]The Youth Fellows Program trains young leaders in nonprofit operations and strategic changemaking. Since its launch, 200 fellows have completed the program, with some going on to advise the WHO Director-General and receive scholarships to leading universities.[11]
Climate Calling
[edit]Launched in 2025, Climate Calling is an online platform designed to connect over 70,000 youth with climate-related jobs, internships, and funding opportunities.[12]
Ambassadors Program
[edit]The Ambassadors Program provides educational resources and toolkits for young people to promote climate literacy in their communities. With 40,000 sign-ups across 134 countries, it is posed to become one of the largest multilingual climate education networks.[13]
Impact
[edit]- 16,000+ volunteers mobilized[14]
- 3 million+ words translated into 105+ languages[15]
- 11 million+ people reached through multilingual climate education[16]
- 200+ chapters in 35 countries[17]
- 200+ young leaders trained through the Youth Fellows Program[18]
Recognition and media coverage
[edit]Climate Cardinals has received national and international recognition for its work in climate education and advocacy. It has been featured in:
- TED Countdown Global Ideas Award[19]
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact[20]
- National Geographic’s Young Explorers[21]
- BBC 100 Women[22]
- Grist 50[23]
- L'Oréal Women of Worth[24]
- Reuters Climate Future Leaders 2024[25]
The organization’s leadership has participated in advisory groups, including:
- UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change[26]
- UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network[27]
- World Health Organization Youth Council[28]
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Youth Advisory Council[29]
Governance and structure
[edit]Climate Cardinals is a fiscally sponsored project under Future Incubator, a joint program between Registration Nation and Future Coalition.[30]
Climate Cardinals shares the same board as Future Coalition.
Advisory board
[edit]Climate Cardinals is advised by environmental leaders and policy experts, including:[31]
- Hugh Evans – CEO & Co-Founder, Global Citizen
- Sylvia Earle – Oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence
- Ryan Hathaway – Biden-Harris White House Director of Environmental Justice
References
[edit]- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Climate Cardinals." UNESCO. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ Kart, Jeff. "Climate Cardinals Website Enlists Students To Translate Climate Change Information, Earn Community Service Hours." Forbes. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ Kart, Jeff. "Youth Activist Uses Quarantine To Start Nonprofit That Translates Climate Change Information From English To Other Languages." Forbes. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ Kart, Jeff. "Climate Cardinals Plans to Double its Science Translation Efforts with New Google Backing." Forbes. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ Freedman, Andrew "Youth-led climate group gets a boost from Google's philanthropic arm." Axios. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ Horn-Muller, Ayurella. "AI is shattering climate language barriers." Axios. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Language Shouldn't Be a Barrier to Climate Action." TED. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Sophia Kianni." Forbes. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Sophia Danube Kianni." National Geographic. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2023." BBC. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Grist 50 2024." Grist. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Sophia Kianni." L'Oreal. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Climate Future Leaders 2024." Reuters. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "First Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change." United Nations. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network." UNESCO. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "WHO Youth Council Members." World Health Organization. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "National Environmental Youth Advisory Council-Council Members." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ About Climate Cardinals. Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.
- ^ "Climate Cardinals Announces Inaugural Advisory Board." Climate Cardinals. Retrieved 2025-2-15.