About renata

Renata Koch Alvarenga is an award-winning Brazilian climate advocate and social entrepreneur, recognized globally for her leadership in feminist climate action, youth empowerment, and climate resilience. She founded the nonprofit EmpoderaClima at 22, which has grown into a flagship organization advancing gender-just climate action across Latin America and the Caribbean through education, advocacy, and community-based projects around Brazil.

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In 2021, Renata became the first young Brazilian to speak at the opening of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, addressing global leaders alongside the UN Secretary-General. That same year, she was nominated by Malala Yousafzai as a young leader to follow at COP26. Renata has inspired audiences with her talks in more than 15 countries,  featured by leading global institutions and media outlets. She is also featured in the Brazilian documentary Feminine Planet, which highlights 5 women leaders shaping the future of climate action.

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In 2024, Renata was named the Forbes Under 30 Brazil Social Entrepreneurship cover and awarded the inaugural Beautiful Forces Grant by Estée Lauder and Vital Voices. She holds a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard University and has worked on international climate and development policy with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the UK Government. She is currently a Generation17 Young Leader, a global initiative by UNDP and Samsung, and serves as a Planet Fellow at the United Nations Foundation.