Climate Cardinals Founder Sophia Kianni Named to TIME100 Next 2025
January 15, 2025
Sophia Kianni, founder of Climate Cardinals and TJHSST alumna, was named to the 2025 TIME100 Next list recognizing emerging leaders shaping the future. Kianni founded Climate Cardinals in 2020 while still in high school, building it into the world's largest youth-led climate nonprofit with over 19,000 volunteers across 80+ countries translating climate resources into 100+ languages.
Kianni became the youngest person in U.S. history to serve as a United Nations advisor when appointed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change in 2020. She has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, BBC's 100 Women, and as a National Geographic Young Explorer.
Her work has been covered by The New York Times, CNN, BBC, NPR, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. She also co-chaired the Youth4Climate event in Milan preceding COP26.