Aditi is an environmental lawyer dedicated to achieving climate justice. At WYCJ, she leads the Legal Advocacy Taskforce and contributes to the Asian Front's development. She is a researcher in Public International Law and Environmental Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL). Aditi holds an LL.M. in Global Environmental Law and Governance and a Master’s Diploma in Law (PGDELP) in India's National Environmental Law and Policy. Prior to specialising in environmental law and climate change law, she practiced civil and criminal law in Mumbai, India.

Email: aditi@wy4cj.org

Ashawnté Russell is a young and dynamic environmentalist hailing from The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Over the last 5 years, Ashawnté has been involved with multiple projects and programmes that directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the national, regional, and international communities. Ashawnte is pursing her BSc. in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from the University of The Bahamas. She is currently serving as the EarthDay.org My Future My Voice Youth Ambassador for The Bahamas and is the outgoing Female Youth Climate Ambassador for The Bahamas (2023 – 2024)

Email: ashawnte@wy4cj.org

Brenda Reson Sapuro is an environmental lawyer and a passionate advocate for social and environmental justice. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, England and Wales (MCIArb), and a certified mediator (MTI). She has founded the Enyuatta EcoJustice Centre. She also lectures at the Consolata International University (CIU). She holds a Master's degree in International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy from Hochschule Furtwangen University in Germany, as well as a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree.

Email: brenda@wy4cj.org

Christianne Zakour is a specialist in loss and damage and climate peace and security with extensive experience campaigning on behalf of small island developing states with a grassroots focus, and a writer on environmental matters. Christianne is an ambassador for the Caribbean Climate Justice Project, Caribbean representative for the Loss and Damage Youth Grantmaking Council, and a project assistant with the Institute for Small Islands. Christianne holds an MSc. in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Sustainable Development from the University of the West Indies.

Email: christianne@wy4cj.org

Dulki has completed LL.B. (Hons) from the University of London, B.A. (Hons) in Interior Design from University of Northumbria at Newcastle, LL.M. and M. Phil. in Law from the University of Colombo. She is a Senior Executive Researcher at the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy (CELP) affiliated to the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo. She is particularly interested in animal laws and climate change related issues.

Email: dulki@wy4cj.org

Henrieke holds an LLB in European and International Law as well as an LLM in Environmental Law. Her interest in the climate crisis has strongly influenced both her personal and academic life, working dedicatedly towards utilizing the skills and opportunities at her disposal to contribute to the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. She strongly believes in the power of the law to bring about solution-oriented action and to ensure climate justice as an integral part of the future on our planet. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Environmental Management to bridge the gap between law and science in decision-making.

Email: henrieke@wy4cj.org

José is a Costa Rican lawyer specialising in the intersection of human rights law and environmental protection, especially with regards to the climate emergency. He has worked as a consulting attorney for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and various non-governmental organizations. Currently, he serves as external legal advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment. He holds an LLM in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

Email: jose@wy4cj.org

Jule Schnakenberg is a member of the Core-Team of the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ), and has an interest in using (international) law to further progress on climate justice and intergenerational equity.

Originally from Hamburg (Germany) she now live in The Hague and manages our finances, fundraising and donor relations. Jule is also studying for a Masters in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University.

Email: jule@wy4cj.org

She is currently a law student passionate about international environmental law. She has been an activist since 2018, when she presented a legislative proposal for the regulation of single-use plastics in her home state. She co-founded with other Mexican activists “Escazu Ahora Mexico” with the purpose of accelerating Mexico’s ratification of the Escazu Agreement and its entry into force in the region. Mariana has been part of the United Nations Career for Climate Action Programme and other courses of environmental and human rights law.

Email: mariana@wy4cj.org

Marijn is a recent graduate of the MSc Sustainability Science, Policy & Society programme at Maastricht University. She has a background in Law and International Studies, and takes part in the WYCJ campaign as communications co-coordinator. She is excited to promote the campaign and share about all things WYCJ and climate justice together with her communications partner in crime Quint. She is passionate about fairness and social equity in climate action, especially about the importance of interdisciplinary and holistic approaches to complex sustainability issues and the search for just transitions.

Email: marijn@wy4cj.org

Mert Kumru is the former UN Youth Representative on Human Rights and Security for the Netherlands. He combines his Human Rights background with a variety of climate related themes.

In his work and activism he focusses especially on Human Rights violations that take place due to the climate crisis. Mert is currently doing a Public International Law LLM at the University of Leiden.

Email: mert@wy4cj.org

Nicole Ponce is Co-Founder and Coordinator of I am Climate Justice (ICJ) movement, Research Fellow to the Normandy Chair for Peace, and a graduate of Juris Doctor from University of San Carlos, Philippines. Her work is focused on using law as a tool for social change especially in the field of climate action and human rights.

Email: nicole@wy4cj.org

Quint is a student currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Engineering at Delft University of Technology. He thinks that the ICJAO is a great milestone in climate justice and that it can lead to more progressive climate policies worldwide. He wants to contribute to WYCJ by improving the communication around the campaign, so that more people learn about and start supporting the campaign for a progressive advisory opinion from the world's highest court. He does his work as Communications Coordinator together with Marijn, who initially told him about WYCJ and brought him into the organisation.

Email: quint@wy4cj.org

Roseline Ogwuche, is a human rights lawyer and climate change activist in Nigeria. She contributes her efforts towards the cause of climate justice in Nigeria through advocacy, and Diplomacy. She is the Programs Officer and Team lead at the Africa Blue Economy Alliance, an NGO dedicated to advancing the Climate Action Agenda through tailor made ocean literacy projects and initiatives centered on the blue economy and how it can be harnessed to cater to the global climate crisis. She loves writing and engaging in community outreaches.

Email: roseline@wy4cj.org

Roza is a communications professional passionate about shifting dominant narratives around climate change and human rights to create space for change. With a background in International Studies and Linguistics, she is a graduate of International Relations from Leiden University. Currently based in Brussels, she has supported WYCJ’s advocacy efforts around COP27 and COP28.

Email: roza@wy4cj.org

Originally from the French island of Mayotte, Samira Ben Ali is a passionate climate justice advocate dedicated to raising the voices of vulnerable communities. She has a strong academic background in European and International Environmental Law and Political Sciences. Samira believes that a robust international legal framework is essential to protect current and future generations. Through her work with the World’s Youth for Climate Justice as well as an European Climate Pact Ambassador, she advocates for policies that reflect the concerns and aspirations of young people committed to a sustainable and just future.

Email: samira@wy4cj.org

Siosiua is from the Kingdom of Tonga and has completed his Bachelor of Law from the University of the South Pacific. He joined PISFCC back in 2019 in an effort to meaningfully contribute to the fight for climate justice through the ICJAO Campaign. He is an advocate for the merging of Human Rights and Climate Justice concepts to ensure the security of the Pacific's future.

Email: siosiua@pisfcc.org

Theresa Amor-Juergenssen holds an LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and has been called to the Bar of England and Wales. She has a comparative law background and a specialized knowledge of the European and the inter-American systems of human rights protection, the application of human rights to armed conflict, and rights-based climate change litigation. She is particularly passionate about regional and international human rights litigation, intergenerational justice, and preserving the environment for future generations.

Email: theresa@wy4cj.org

Vishal is the campaign director with the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change. He is an MA student at The University of the South Pacific and has a background in Politics and International Affairs. He is very passionate about human rights and believes that the ICJAO campaign has the potential to break the deadlock on ambitious climate action globally

Email: vishal@wy4cj.org

Yasmin holds an MSc in International Politics from SOAS University of London, specializing in Climate Justice, International Accountability, and Security Politics. As Head of Connection at Young Women in Sustainable Development, she supports collaborative initiatives empowering youth and women in sustainability as lead of communications. Her lobbying experience in the Netherlands and EU has focused on coherent and just policy development. Her interest lies with working to foster holistic and inclusive decision-making through improving international cooperation and accountability frameworks.

Email: yasmin@wy4cj.org

Aoife Fleming is former UN Youth Representative on Sustainable Development for the Netherlands. She holds an LLM in financial law from Leiden University. Her interest lies with how legal solutions can help address the climate crisis, both through a climate finance and a rights-based perspective.

Email: aoife@wy4cj.org

Lianne Baars is a PhD candidate at Leiden University, researching the procedural aspects of climate change litigation in international human rights courts and bodies. She holds an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from the University of Edinburgh, and an LLM in Public International Law from Leiden University. Her interest lies in protecting the right to access to justice and redress mechanisms for victims of climate change.

Email: lianne@wy4cj.org

Sumeyra Arslan is a legal advisor in the Supervisory Board at Fossielvrij NL. She is an expert in climate litigation, corporate accountability and human rights and climate change. She holds an LL.B. in Dutch law, an LL.M. in International and European Union Law from the Erasmus University Rotterdam and an LL.M. International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex. She is passionate about using the law innovatively as a tool to fight for climate justice.

Email: sumeyra@wy4cj.org