The Latino politicians most committed to climate action

Various organizations, such as Green Cross, The Climate Reality Project, and Climate Power, join Sachamama every year to highlight various Latinos who work, from different areas, for solutions to the climate crisis. Several of these personalities are in charge of ministries, presidencies, mayors, or hold positions in some congress. These activities allow them to influence climate and environmental protection policies. In this article, we tell you who were the outstanding Latino politicians this year and why they were awarded the recognition.

Presidents and Vice Presidents

Gabriel Boric – President Of Chile

One of his flags during the elections was the protection of the environment. It has promoted the enactment of the Climate Change Framework Law and the ratification of the Escazú Agreement. In his first public accountability, he emphasized climate and environmental issues.

Francia Márquez – Vice President of Colombia

Before reaching the vice presidency, she was already an outstanding social and environmental leader. She was the winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize for defending the territory of ancestral communities against mining and activism. It is expected that from his current position he will promote climate justice and the protection of territories with a social approach.

Mayors, Mayors And Governors

Carolina Mejía – Mayor of Santo Domingo

"In his management, the important work of cleaning up the city, the rescue and renovation of its parks, and the signing of an agreement between the Mayor's Office that he presides over, the Altice Foundation, and the Cincinnatus Institute of Craftsmanship INC, an alliance with the character of responsibility that will benefit young Dominicans in the sector", says Sachamama. Likewise, it promoted the joining of an agreement of the Coalition of Capital Cities of the Americas against Climate Change (CC35) to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.

Horacio Rodríguez Larreta – Mayor of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, along with other cities, designed the 2050 Climate Action Plan to be carbon neutral. Larreta led the C40 World Mayors Summit, an event on cities and climate change.

Helder Zahluth Barbalho – Governor of Pará – Brazil

As governor of one of Brazil's Amazonian states, he opposed Bolsonaro's policies and pointed out the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural development that does not affect communities and the jungle. In this sense, he has highlighted the importance of not implementing measures behind the backs of indigenous communities.

Irací Luiza Hassler Jacob – Mayor of Santiago de Chile

Sachamama has highlighted his leadership as the head of the Santiago commune since 2021, by implementing sustainability as the central axis of his government project. It has promoted plans for non-polluting mobility, reforestation of the city, efficient recycling, and the promotion of clean energy.

Ministers And Coordinators

Maisa Roja – Minister of the Environment – Chile

This is an expert in climate change and a doctor in Physics of the Atmosphere from the University of Oxford. Since this year he has been in charge of the Ministry of the Environment in Chile. "She was the coordinator of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change and lead author of the paleoclimatic chapter of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In addition, she also collaborated on the Sixth Report as lead author", Sachamama points out.

Carlos Correa – former Colombian Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development

He was highlighted for his management at the forefront of the protection of the oceans and biodiversity in Colombia. He was named a Champion for Nature by the World Economic Forum. Thanks to his management, the country fulfilled the protection of 30% of marine and terrestrial areas 8 years earlier, as it was a commitment that had to be achieved in 2030.

Gustavo Manrique – Minister of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of Ecuador

It is one of the promoters of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) that aims to conserve the region's oceans through 500,000 square kilometers of the protected area. Sachamama highlights that it has participated in consultancies for 2,000 environmental projects.

José Sarukhán Kermez – National Coordinator of the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity of Mexico

This biologist, who has published more than 110 investigations and several books, was awarded the Tyler Prize, a prestigious recognition for protecting the Environment. His studies have focused on the protection of biodiversity and ecological restoration.

Congressmen and Deputies

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – Congresswoman New York's 14th District

This congresswoman of Puerto Rican origin is one of the main promoters of climate policies in New York. He has led the Green New Deal initiative, a resolution that aims to mobilize the country toward the elimination of the use of fossil fuels. She has been a defender of the EPA, before the decisions of the Supreme Court that have taken away authority from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sonia Guajajara – Federal Deputy for Sao Pablo – Brazil

She was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine this year. Likewise, she was elected to be a federal deputy, thus becoming the first indigenous woman to represent Sao Pablo in a said instance. As an activist, he has defended the protection of the Amazon and indigenous peoples.

Raúl Grijalva – 14th District Congressman from Arizona, United States

This congressman of Mexican origin is a prominent politician in the United States. Sachamama highlights him for presenting the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act, which aims to modernize federal policy to protect the oceans from climate change.