Catarina Lorenzo, a Brazilian environmental activist from the indigenous Pataxo community, has made significant contribution to environmental advocacy. At just 12, she co-submitted the “Children vs. Climate Crisis” petition to the UN, highlighting climate action failures by several countries.

Catarina founded The Eco Club Sustentare, which includes the Mares de Mudancas project for beach cleanups and advocacy, and SOS Vale Encantado to protect a 100-hectare forest in Salvador. As a global youth leader at Heirs to Our Ocean, she has influenced local policies to ban single-use plastics and has been recognized with awards such as the AMISA Global Citizen Award and inclusion in UOL’s “5 Activists Who Inspire.” Catarina’s impactful work continues to inspire global action on environmental and climate issues.