6.5 billion people can not understand 90% of climate information provided online. The impact? Lack of knowledge that leads billions unprepared to respond to the climate crisis and excluded from the global conversation of the future.

When information isn’t accessible, action isn’t possible.

Meet the Activist Behind the Idea

Meet Sophia Kianni- an Iranian-American entrepreneur making bold moves and creating positive change. A Stanford graduate, UN youth advisor, and startup founder, Kianni has taken her personal experiences, academic background, and unapologetically loud voice online to mobilize thousands of young people globally. Named among Forbes 30 Under 30, BBC’s 100 Women, National Geographic’s Young Explorers, and Vice Media’s Youngest Human of the Year, Kianni blends bold activism with stylist entrepreneur—and she’s just getting started!

Passion Project to Nonprofit

What began as a teen-led passion project quickly evolved into a global nonprofit creating real-world impact. Climate Cardinals is the world’s largest youth-led climate nonprofit with the mission to strengthen community resilience against climate change by expanding language access and youth empowerment. With over 16,000+ volunteers across 130+ countries, Climate Cardinals is tackling language barriers that are preventing climate knowledge around the world.

On the official Climate Cardinal website, Kianni shares her realization for the urgent need for accessible climate information. During a trip to Iran, Kianni recounts being shocked in seeing the pollution filling the air of the city and covering the one clear starlight sky. When she expressed her concerns to her family, she recognized the lack of knowledge across non-English speaking communities.

Over 90% of climate science is written in English however, over 6.5 billion individuals around the world do not understand English. The problem is big and clear!

Empowering Youth to Make a Global Impact

What started off as translating climate information has turned into a mission of “translations for resilience, localized education, and empowering representative youth.”. Turning their educational platforms into community oriented actions, Climate cardinals is making an impact with their three action programs:

• Language Equity: Translating climate information into 105+ languages offering free translations for grassroot organizations and providing professional services for larger groups.

• Youth Fellowship: Empowering the next generation of climate activists, Climate Cardinals is mentoring over 85+ fellows globally and strengthening youth representation in climate decision-making rooms.

• Chapter Programs: A network of over 150+ chapters across the world, Climate Cardinals is inspiring young individuals to address community needs and tackle local climate issues.

Climate Cardinals has reached 11 million+ people through multilingual education; 16,000+ volunteers, 3M+ words, 200+ chapters, 200+ fellows—all signs of powerful, scalable youth leadership.

Filling the Gap

Climate change disasters are leaving a footprint in almost every city of the world. But climate knowledge? Still gated by language. Climate Cardinals is proving Gen Z can spot a massive gap—and build a solution that actually works. Sophia and Climate Cardinals prove that Gen Z can not only spot the gaps but fill them, with digital savvy, community leadership, and multilingual resilience.

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