Climate Cardinals

Climate Cardinals is a global, youth-focused organization focused on making climate action accessible to non-English speakers through large-scale translation and education initiatives.

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

Its mission is to break language and action barriers in the climate movement so every community can take action and protect their future.^[1][2]

Since its launch, Climate Cardinals has grown into one of the world's largest climate education organizations. The organization has mobilized over 16,000 volunteers across 145 countries, trained 250 young leaders in nonprofit operations, and translated millions of words of scientific and policy information into 105+ languages—reaching over 19 million people globally.

History

Climate Cardinals was founded in 2020 by climate activist Sophia Kianni, the youngest-ever United Nations advisor on climate change, together with a group of high school friends.

The idea emerged from Kianni's experience visting relatives in Iran, where she discovered that her family—and billions of others—had little access to climate information in their first language. Kianni learned that the vast majority of peer-reviewed climate research is published in English, despite the fact that the majority of the world’s population does not speak it whatsoever.^[3][4]

A small volunteer initiative quickly scaled into a global movement. Early founding member Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa played a key role in developing the organization’s structured programs and later became the organization's first full-time Executive Director.^[5]

Climate Cardinals has since partnered with major institutions—including the United Nations, Clinton Global Initiative, and Deloitte—, and received philanthropic support from Google to expand its translation capacity.^[6][7]

Programs and activities

Translation Initiative

Climate Cardinals runs the largest translation project in the climate sector, making climate information accessible in 105+ languages. Volunteers and professional linguists work together to provide free translations for grassroots organizations and affordable services for larger institutions. Revenue from translation services fuels youth-led climate education efforts.^[8][9]

Chapters Program

The organization coordinates more than 68 student-led chapters in 20+ countries, with 84% located in the Global South. These chapters focus on local climate education, advocacy, and action tailored to community needs.^[10]

Fellowship Program

The Fellowship Program trains the next generation of social impact leaders. Since its launch, 250 fellows have completed the program, with alumni going on to advise the WHO Director-General and receive scholarships to leading universities.^[11]

Impact

• 16,000+ volunteers mobilized as of 2025^[12]
• 4 million+ words translated into 105+ languages^[13]
• 19 million+ people reached through multilingual climate education^[14]
• 68 chapters in 20+ countries^[15]
• 250 young leaders trained through the Youth Fellows Program^[16]

Recognition and media coverage

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^[17]
• Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact^[18]
• National Geographic’s Young Explorers^[19]
• BBC 100 Women^[20]
• Grist 50^[21]
• L'Oréal Women of Worth^[22]
• Reuters Climate Future Leaders 2024^[23]

The organization’s leadership has participated in advisory groups, including:

• UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change^[24]
• UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network^[25]
• World Health Organization Youth Council^[26]
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Youth Advisory Council^[27]

Governance and structure

Climate Cardinals is a fiscally sponsored project under Future Incubator, a joint program between Registration Nation and Future Coalition.^[28]

Climate Cardinals shares the same board as Future Incubator.

Advisory board

Climate Cardinals is advised by environmental leaders and policy experts, including:^[29]

• 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