Juliana Castañeda

Youth climate leader who won landmark environmental lawsuit against Colombia's government

Juliana Castañeda, a 21-year-old Colombian environmental activist, co-led the 2018 Future Generations case that forced Colombia to create a national plan to protect its Amazon rainforest. As part of the Dejusticia legal team, she argued that deforestation violated youth's constitutional rights to a healthy environment. The ruling ordered reforestation programs and indigenous land protection measures. Her advocacy inspired global youth movements, though less widely recognized than Greta Thunberg's efforts. Castañeda's work highlights legal strategies to combat climate change, establishing precedents for climate litigation. She's developed apps like Agua Clara to monitor water quality in rural areas, blending tech innovation with environmental justice. Recognized by Time magazine as one of 2020's most influential teens, her story is chronicled in Dejusticia's reports. Current projects focus on protecting Colombia's páramo ecosystems through community-led conservation.