Ximena Vélez

Colombian environmental lawyer who pioneered plastic reduction laws in Latin America, banning single-use plastics nationwide.

Ximena Vélez (b. 1985) is a Colombian environmental attorney and founder of Somos Acuario, an NGO that successfully lobbied Colombia's 2019 Plastic Packaging Tax Law. This legislation imposed a 5% tax on single-use plastics, leading to a 30% reduction in plastic waste within two years. Her advocacy also inspired similar laws in Ecuador and Peru, creating a regional movement against plastic pollution.

Vélez's career began exposing illegal dumping practices by multinational corporations in the Caribbean coast. Her landmark 2017 lawsuit against Coca-Cola subsidiaries resulted in $1.8 billion cleanup fines - the largest environmental penalty in Colombian history. She pioneered the 'Polluter Pays' principle in local jurisprudence through cases involving 12 major corporations.

Her 2021 book 《Plastic Justice: How Environmental Lawyers Are Defending Our Planet》 details legal strategies for sustainability. She advises the UN Environment Programme and co-founded the Latin America Eco Alliance, training 500+ lawyers across 15 countries. Time Magazine named her one of 2022's '100 Most Influential People' for her work in 'turning legal systems into environmental guardians.'