From a young age, Carlos has been proactively involved in sustainability issues, and he unleashed his full potential at the University of Bristol, where he explored the interdimensional spheres of sustainability futures in greater depth and got involved in leadership roles, including the President of the Bristol University Sustainability Team and the Chair of the Sustainability Network.
Representing c29 000 students, he was responsible for organising and mobilising events and panels with IPCC authors, the novel Sustainable Careers Fairs, a Sustainability Month, or introducing novel, impactful schemes such as the Sustainability Champions and the nation-wide “Invest for Change” campaign, and fundraisers to provide humanitarian aid for Ukraine, by which he also got awarded the Bristol SU’s Sustainability Award and Bristol Sustainable Futures Outstanding Award.
He is part of several international networks to champion sustainable futures, including the Global Shapers, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, in which he is creating a hub for young climate leaders in the Canary Islands, the Climate Reality Project as a Climate Leader, and more notably, environmental-law charity Client Earth as a Co-Chair of the Next Generation Board. Passionate about climate diplomacy, he is growingly involved in UN Conferences such as COP26, SB56, and COP27, as well as representing Spain at the 16th and 17th UN Climate Change Conferences of Youth.
Finalising his internship at the UNDP, he is looking forward to ways to maximise his impact through a holistic approach in diplomacy, research, youth empowerment and education.
In his three years as a student at the University of Bristol, Carlos has explored the interdimensional spheres of sustainable development and forged strong working relationships with sustainability stakeholders. Building on his knowledge and growing his network has enabled him to make a significant impact, supporting with the ongoing development of the University’s sustainability policy and engaging peers in the issues around climate emergency. One of his proudest achievements includes presenting the “Invest for Change” campaign to the University’s Chief-Executive team in April 2021. Carlos successfully challenged the eight-figure endowment fund policy to divest from unethical investments.
Other noteworthy achievements include representing the University of Bristol at COP26 and embedding education for sustainable development by introducing and coordinating 11 paid student ‘Sustainability Champion’ roles. Carlos also made a successful proposal for the budget to deliver Carbon Literacy Project training to several staff and students, delivered blended sustainability careers fair events during the pandemic, hosted panel discussions with IPCC authors and managed a series of events to raise funds for humanitarian aid to support Ukraine.
Carlos has recently been named Student Sustainability Champion by the Green Gown Awards, the most prestigious award in the UK and Ireland within sustainability in the higher education sector. According to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, “Carlos is the very definition of a sustainability champion. He has achieved an outstanding amount in a short timeframe, especially the way he is upscaling his ideas by more young people as leads in integrating sustainability into their disciplines.