SES 2026 Ambassador
Carla Lima
Finance young professional, Awarded as Winner of the NATO Youth Summit Challenge (Miami, USA)
Carla is a finance young professional, who has been actively engaged with climate action both locally and internationally. In 2024, she was awarded as Winner of the NATO Youth Summit Challenge (Miami, USA)with an innovative proposal on climate finance and she was also invited as a speaker on this topic at the United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum (New York, USA). Additionally, she has been recognized as a national Climate Activist by the Youth Institute, United Nations Development Programme, the General Directorate of Environment and Climate Action of São Tomé e Príncipe. These achievements showcase her commitment in promoting youth-led energy transition initiatives while bringing a financial perspective to the discussion, especially in the Global South climate adaptation context.
Yes, I recently participated in a national workshop in São Tomé and Príncipe that led to the creation of seven Youth Climate Action Committees—six in São Tomé and one in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe. These committees were youth-led initiatives supported by UNDP and UNICEF to mobilize grassroots climate action.
During the workshop, I contributed to the design and approval of the national Youth Climate Action Plan, which included district-specific activities and community awareness campaigns. The aim was to empower young leaders as local “climate champions” and provide them with seed funding to implement their action plans.
As someone committed to promoting climate justice from the Global South, it was a powerful experience to witness and support the creation of a youth climate movement rooted in local knowledge. The project also aligns with São Tomé and Príncipe’s CPLP presidency theme, “Youth and Sustainability,” giving it regional significance.
