Francisco Vera
Environmental Protection
About
Francisco Vera is a Colombian climate activist, who at age 9, made a historic intervention in the Colombian Senate asking that lawmakers formulate climate-safe policies. He was the first child to address Congress.
Driven by his great passion for wildlife, plants, and the planet, Francisco has taken local, national, and international actions on issues such as the prohibition of animal testing and single-use plastics, fracking, and the declaration of a climate emergency.
Work
In 2020 Francisco founded Guardians for Life, a movement of over 500 Colombian children promoting new leadership, environmental awareness, and civic, climate, and environmental education. In 2022, he drafted the ‘Joint Declaration of #EcoHope’ advocating for children’s participation in climate change decisions. The declaration has been circulated to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the EU Vice President. His book, ‘Ask Francisco: What Is Climate Change?’ aims to help kids understand the climate crisis and remain hopeful about the future.