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We celebrate Women’s History Month to reflect on the progress of women’s rights, to honor the women who have broken barriers, and to recognize the contributions women have made to society. This year, we’d like to recognize five young women who have become climate change action leaders both globally and within their own communities. Their activism in the environment deserves to be commemorated.
Kianni is a 23-year-old Iranian-American environmental entrepreneur and activist. In 2020, she founded Climate Cardinals, an organization addressing the lack of accessible climate information in languages other than English. She was inspired to take action after visiting her family in Iran and realizing they had little access to climate information in their native language. Today, Climate Cardinals has over 16,000 volunteers in 80+ countries dedicated to translating climate science information into multiple languages.
Kianni gained recognition for her work after winning the TedTalk Global Ideas Competition in 2021 where she discussed why language shouldn’t be a barrier to climate action. She went on to speak at major events such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference. In 2024, she was appointed on the EPA’s National Youth Advisory Council and also became the youngest United Nations Advisor. Kianni has been recognized by Time’s Next Generation Leaders, BBC’s 100 Women, Forbes 30 under 30, and more for her entrepreneurship and climate action.
Grace is a 29-year-old Rwandan climate activist. She has been a vocal advocate for youth-led climate action, encouraging young people to get involved in environmental protection and to demand action from governments and corporations to address climate change. She focuses on giving a voice to African communities and demanding action for their communities who have been disproportionately affected by climate change.
Grace is the CEO of The Green Protector (formerly known as The Green Fighter), which she founded in 2017. The company actively promotes environmental awareness and action among the younger generation in Rwanda, particularly through education and community initiative. She is also a co-founder and coordinator for the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, a group of youth from 90+ countries who have come together to advocate for action to address the impacts of climate change. They are particularly focusing on "loss and damage," or the irreversible harms caused by climate change, by raising awareness, lobbying decision-makers, and pushing for financial support for communities most affected by climate change. In 2023, Grace won the Global Citizen Prize for her efforts in climate action.
Thunberg is a 22-year-old Swedish environmental activist, and one of the most influential to date. She gained international recognition at the age of 15 when she began skipping school on Fridays to protest at Swedish Parliament for better climate action from the government. This began the Fridays for Future movement where students and adults alike would go on strike from their schools or workplaces on Fridays to continue the protest alongside her. The movement spread to other countries around the world, spreading awareness for climate change.
Thunberg went on to organize other global climate protests and speak at venues such as the World Economic Forum, European Parliament, and the United Nations. Her famous speeches have urged world leaders to listen to scientists and take more serious climate action. In 2019 she became the youngest Time Person of the Year, was featured in Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women, and won the Right Livelihood Award. She has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times.
Nakate is a 28-year-old Ugandan climate justice activist. She garnered international attention in 2019 when she began the Fridays for Future movement in Uganda by protesting outside Uganda Parliament solo. Nakate gained support from other young people, and eventually went on to found the Rise Up Movement, which seeks to elevate the voices of African climate activists. She went on to speak at international forums such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference and World Economic Forum.
Nakate spearheaded the campaign to save Congo’s rainforest which was facing mass deforestation. She is an advocate for renewable energy and founded the Vash Green School project in 2019 which works to install solar panels and eco-friendly stoves in Ugandan schools. In 2020, the United Nations named Nakate a Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals and in 2021, Time magazine added her to its Time 100 Next list. By 2022, Nakate decided to create the Tard Foundation, a Christian climate organization which aimed to encourage faith institutions to be agents of change through actions such as divesting from fossil fuels. Later that year, she was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
Neubauer is a 28-year-old German climate activist. After meeting Greta Thunberg in 2018, she was inspired to become a key organizer of the Fridays for Future movement in Germany. Her Fridays for Future movement pushed the German Parliament to pass a bill reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, Neubauer chose to sue the government in 2020 when the bill sought to postpone serious emission cuts until after 2030, and did not explain in detail how they would be achieved after that date. In 2021, she won the historic climate litigation case on the grounds that the bill was unconstitutional for not doing its part to achieve Paris Agreement targets.
Since then, Neubauer has written six books on climate change including the best-seller Beginning to End the Climate Crisis. She hosts the Spotify podcast 1,5 Grad, which discusses how to take climate action, and has given multiple TedTalks. Neubauer was recognized by Time 100 Next Leaders in 2022 for her climate change actions.
The remarkable efforts of these young women demonstrate the power of activism and the urgency of tackling environmental challenges. Sophia Kianni, Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate, and Luisa Neubauer have each used their unique platforms to advocate for climate action, empower communities, and demand governments to take responsibility. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, these young women exemplify how passionate leadership can drive significant change.