The ‘100 most committed Latin Americans’ to the environment

Pope Francis, actress Eva Longoria, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Spanish conservationist Enric Sala are among the people named among the “100 Latin Americans most committed to climate action in 2023,” according to a list released this Tuesday.

This list, presented by the Sachamama organization and made this year in collaboration with EFEFerde, the environmental news platform of the EFE Agency, highlights personalities as well as social, business, scientific, political, communicator and activist leaders. indigenous people who have stood out for their work during the climate crisis.

The list also includes a Colombian singer-songwriter Carlos Vivesmodels and activists Gisele Bundchenresident researcher National Geographic Enric Sala, already an environmental and human rights activist Helena Gualingaamong others, all nominated by more than 20 environmental organizations.

“The efforts of these leaders are key in promotion Oh yeah a more sustainable futureand in creating a more inclusive and diverse climate movement, which is what is needed to deal with environmental challenges globally,” said Carlos Zegarra, CEO of Florida-based Sachamama.

One hundred Latin Americans to whom he devoted himself the most climate action This year, the fifth in a row represented by the organization, they were chosen by a “jury of eight judges”, all of whom have extensive experience in this topic, including a journalist specializing in sustainability, innovation and technology Lorena Arroyo; indigenous activist of the Ai’Kofán people Alex Lucitante and Xiye Bastida, co-founder of the initiative Re-earthing.

“The fight against the climate crisis requires examples in which we can look back and recognize the work of those who took a step forward against the biggest Environmental problem what we are facing as a species. 100 Latin Americans are a reflection in the form of ‘green influencers‘, from a community that is very aware of the threat posed by inaction in the face of climate change,” said Arturo Larena, director of EFEVerda.

Zegarra, a marine biologist born in Peru, told EFE that with some of the participants in this list, which was published in International Day of Climate Action They will conduct campaigns to protect the Amazon.

“We all depend on ‘well-being’ Amazonas “the most bioculturally diverse region in the world,” added Zegarra, who pointed out that they plan to present this Campaign next December, during the twenty-eighth UN climate change conference, COP28which will be held in Dubai.

The campaign in favor of Amazon is being developed within the framework of the global goal of zero carbon emissions. greenhouse gasses and the transition to renewable energy sources by 2050, in line with the targets set by the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature no more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Zegarra highlighted the results obtained in the project that Sachamama started this year, which achieved the reforestation of 17 hectares of land devastated by forest fires in Cerro Huexque, in San José La Arada (Chiquimula), in the so-called dry corridor of Guatemala.

This initiative is part of one of the pillars of the organization, which, Zegarra explained, is investing in nature to increase capabilities land regeneration“as well as improvement quality lives of the communities that depend on them”.

Another focus of Sachamama is informing the Latino communities about NOW on the environment and climate change, for which they have established alliances with more than 50 media houses around the world, including EFEVerde.

Latin Americans are, “historically speaking, a community colorful in accordance with the environment and climate because it is in our roots”, said Zegarra.