why climate cardinals ?
OUR STORY
Climate Cardinals was envisioned by Sophia Kianni, who first recognized the need for climate translation during a middle school trip to Iran. Shocked by severe pollution that obscured the stars and alarmed by the Middle East’s rapidly rising temperatures - more than twice the global average - Sophia realized the urgent need for accessible climate information. When she voiced her concerns to her relatives, she was stunned to learn they knew little about climate change due to the lack of resources in their language.
Determined to bridge this gap, Sophia began translating climate information for her family. Inspired by her work, her relatives became supporters of Iranian environmental defenders and eager learners of climate solutions. Realizing the transformative power of language, Sophia gathered friends and youth passionate about creating change - Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa, Rohan Arora, Joe Hobbs, and others - , leading to the creation of Climate Cardinals.
What began as a movement to translate climate information into over 100 languages has grown into a broader mission. Today, Climate Cardinals not only breaks language barriers but also connects youth and non-English-speaking communities to global networks and resources. By building agency and fostering leadership, the organization ensures these groups can lead the climate movement and strengthen their communities.
the problem
Today, more than 6.5 billion people around the world don’t speak English - but almost all climate information is written in English. This leaves billions of people without access to basic information about how climate change affects them, how to protect their communities, or how to take action.
In many places, people have never even heard about climate change because the information isn’t available in their language. And while some communities lack access to information, many already have powerful local knowledge and solutions for building resilience - but without inclusion in global conversations, funding, and leadership opportunities, they are often unable to scale their efforts or share their innovations more widely.
We believe that breaking down language barriers is essential: not just to raise awareness, but to help communities lead the way on climate adaptation and resilience.
the solution
Climate Cardinals breaks language barriers in the climate movement so every community can take action and protect their future.
We are a fiscally sponsored organization under Future Incubator, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 33-3913132.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
OUR PRograms
Climate Cardinals was founded to solve a critical problem: more than 6.5 billion people don’t speak English, yet up to 98% of climate information is available only in English.
We started by translating climate science - and have since evolved to focus on translations for resilience, localized education, and empowering representative youth. We believe that trusted, connected messengers and local leaders are key to driving meaningful, community-led resilience.
Today, our programs are built to break language barriers with a vision of climate resilience for all.
Chapters
Our network of 100+ chapters localize climate education to meet community needs, with 89% based in the Global South.
Fellows
Our fellowship program empowers the next generation of representative youth leaders with mentorship, skills, and resources. Our 20+ fellows have coordinated efforts at the global level, helping to advise organizations like the WHO, amplify frontline priorities, and strengthen youth representation in climate decision-making spaces.
Translations
We translate climate information into 100+ languages, making essential knowledge accessible to communities around the world.
Our tiered system offers free translations for grassroots organizations, while providing professional services for larger groups, leveraging those funds for our youth and climate resilience programming.
why climate cardinals?
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While many climate organizations focus on mitigation or education, Climate Cardinals is the only major climate organization focused on language as a barrier to community resilience.
Less than 20% of the global population speaks English, yet over 90% of climate information is in English.
Climate Cardinals bridges this gap, making climate knowledge accessible to the 6.5 billion non-English speakers who are often most affected by the climate crisis.
Our work spans over 105 languages, far surpassing most global organizations, including UN initiatives, in multilingual outreach.
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With a small full-time team and clear systems, we’ve built a model that maintains high-quality engagement while scaling globally.
Our tiered translation services (free for grassroots, paid for larger orgs) support sustainability without compromising equity.
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Operates through grassroots chapters and regional youth teams.
Co-creates culturally relevant materials and programming tailored to community contexts and needs
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Climate Cardinals is a youth-led organization grounded in transparency, inclusivity, and community-driven leadership.
Our Senior Leadership Team is 60% women and 100% multilingual, with 30+ years of collective experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and advising global leaders—including the UN Secretary-General, WHO Director-General, and EPA Administrator.
We’ve cultivated a deep bench of youth leaders who grew within the organization—from translators to regional leads to global representatives.
This combination of lived experience, credibility, and operational excellence allows us to execute bold ideas with local trust and global impact.
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From the Smithsonian and Translators Without Borders to UNDP and L’Oréal, Climate Cardinals has earned recognition and funding from unlikely and cross-sectoral collaborators.
This helps mainstream language equity as a priority in global climate conversations.
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Climate Cardinals doesn’t just translate information—we build capacity for local action:
Our Fellowship and Chapters programs equip youth with tools to localize climate education and lead community solutions.
We’ve translated everything from UNICEF’s Climate Risk Index into Indigenous languages to Yale’s emergency guides for Spanish-speaking communities, directly influencing behavior change.
Our youth have gone on to represent Climate Cardinals on major global councils (WHO Youth Council, UNESCO US-CAN), showing leadership that is multilingual, diverse, and embedded in frontline realities.
OUR values
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We build trust by sharing openly and working with clarity and care.
Principles:
Share context, decisions, and challenges early and often.
Prioritize accessibility in language, tools, and process.
Make space for honest, informed participation.
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We grow together through candid, compassionate, and consistent feedback.
Principles:
Treat feedback as an investment in one another’s growth.
Offer critique privately, praise publicly.
Normalize learning from wins, mistakes, and everything in between.
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We build strong relationships, care for one another, and lead with joy.
Principles:
Prioritize well-being and connection alongside productivity.
Celebrate often and hold space for each other.
Make belonging and kindness part of how we get things done.
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We nurture leadership that reflects our communities and grows from within them.
Principles:
Empower local, grassroots, and youth leaders already doing the work.
Share power, knowledge, and tools.
Treat lived experience as expertise.
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We believe in what’s possible — and work boldly to make it real.
Principles:
Embrace change with curiosity and confidence.
Stay open to new ideas, new voices, and new ways of solving problems.
Lead with hope — and turn it into action.