OUR MISSION

Climate Cardinals empowers youth and the global majority of 6.6 billion non-English speakers to lead climate solutions. With 16,000 volunteers across 134 countries, we translate climate information into 100+ languages for partners like UNESCO and UNICEF, lead grassroots education initiatives in 130 schools and universities across 35 countries, and create multilingual campaigns to drive climate action. Supported by AI, our efforts have reached over 11 million people globally.

We are a fiscally sponsored project under Future Incubator, a joint program between Future Coalition, a registered 501(c)(4) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 82-3045346, and the March On Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 82-0958114.

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 drive long-term, inclusive change.

DONATIONS

Please use the link below to donate directly to Climate Cardinals.