Unlocking the Power of Youth to Develop Equity in Net-Zero Governance
In partnership with the British Standards Institution, Oxford Net Zero is working with a cohort of 12 young people from around the world on a project to create criteria for net-zero standards focused on equity and justice. The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation’s ACCESS (Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science) Fund Network. Find out more about the cohort below.
Margaret Chilinda (she/her)
Malawi
Margaret Chilinda is a Malawian environmental advocate, researcher and educator with a BSc in Natural Resource Management (Land and Water). She works as an academic intern at LUANAR, contributing to teaching, environmental research and the formulation of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs). Margaret’s commitment to sustainability is rooted in her firsthand experiences of climate challenges in her hometown of Chikwawa, Malawi, a flood-prone area that has made her understand the urgent need for equitable climate action. Margaret views net zero as a critical target requiring a comprehensive approach, where all sectors reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration, ensuring that the most vulnerable communities are not left behind. Her experiences have allowed her to contribute insights on Malawi’s challenges while learning innovative global strategies for achieving net zero. A co-founder of Tulip Youth for Mental and Menstrual Health, Margaret actively advocates for gender equality and environmental sustainability through initiatives like establishing school environmental clubs. With technical expertise in GIS, remote sensing and spatial analysis, she bridges local challenges with global solutions to advance sustainable development. Passionate about fostering resilient communities; Margaret enjoys mentoring young people, engaging in climate education and exploring creative ways to merge technology and sustainability.
Salew P Kadena (he/him)
India
Salew P Kadena is a young advocate advancing indigenous rights. He belongs to the indigenous Mao Naga tribe in India. He was a YECAP (Indigenous Cohort) fellow engaged by UNDP Asia Pacific and Asia Indigenous People’s Pact. As part of his advocacy, he had served as a Youth Advisor of Terre des hommes for the World Congress on Justice with Children, Spain 2025 and for Being Initiative India. He is currently shaping Indigenous narratives in small cities as a Nagrika India Fellow with Nagrika Policy Research Foundation. As a young law student, he has actively advocated and researched on tribals rights in the Supreme Court of India. His interest lies in the intersection of Indigenous rights in the Climate movement. He is a firm proponent on indigenous stewardship. He believes in ‘equity’ as the framework for advancing social justice. He is always down for a game of football, and cherishes the solidarity the game has fostered, for him and indigenous people in his violence-afflicted region!
Samantha Gonsalves Wetherell (she/her)
United States
Samantha is a current Masters student in the Sustainability, Enterprise, and the Environment program at the University of Oxford, and a recent graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in Environmental Economics as well as Political Economy. A life-long desert dweller from Arizona with a passion for the justice, she has spent her undergraduate career advocating for environmental and social justice through research, political activism, and pro-bono sustainable and equitable investment management for her university. Working with local initiatives, she has spearheaded a number of successful campaigns from actionable city, university, and school district climate action plans to energy equity policy reform. Samantha is excited to have a seat at the standard setting table to advocate for her communities and learn from her fellow cohort members, the British Standards Institution, and businesses on how different stakeholders can collaborate to create large-scale equitable climate action. Aspiring to demonstrate the importance equity in the net-zero transition, she hopes this program will help codify intersectional justice and systems-view thinking in net-zero governance for the United Kingdom and possibly beyond. In her free time, Samantha also loves to crochet little stuffed animals, go on hikes, and participate in her local poetry society!
Martín Iuvaro (he/him)
Argentina
I’m a business economics graduate turned business consultant, with a passion for sustainable development, social equity and climate change. Highlights from my academic and professional journey include designing a circular economy for a startup repurposing coffee waste to reduce methane emissions, advising on carbon credit strategies for sustainable agriculture, and creating impactful marketing plans focused on climate action and racial justice. I joined this program because I see an urgent need to proactively embed equity into net-zero discussions, addressing challenges faced by vulnerable communities before they are forced to demand action. I hope every webinar fosters meaningful discussions and practical solutions, and I look forward to learning from the group’s diverse perspectives while sharing my experience growing up and working in Argentina, a country struggling to balance economic growth, climate action and social justice. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring nature, hiking, and learning new things—whether it’s picking up a language, trying a new sport, or mastering a musical instrument. I’m also a committed Formula 1 fan and never miss a race, no matter the time zone.
Pauline Owiti (she/her)
Kenya
Pauline Owiti is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and youth empowerment, with a strong focus on driving inclusive solutions for climate governance and equitable development. Her experience includes working on community-led projects that address ecological conservation and sustainable practices, fostering collaboration between stakeholders to achieve impactful results. Pauline brings a unique perspective on the intersection of net-zero strategies and social equity, drawing from her hands-on involvement in grassroots initiatives and policy advocacy. Through this program, Pauline hopes to collaborate with like-minded individuals to create actionable frameworks for more inclusive and effective climate governance. She aims to explore innovative approaches that amplify youth voices and ensure equitable participation in shaping sustainable futures. Outside her professional work, Pauline enjoys farming, practicing regenerative agriculture on her farm. She also loves cooking and exploring new music, finding joy in activities that inspire creativity and bring a sense of connection to nature.
Ritaj Kalaskar (he/him)
India
I’m excited to collaborate with all of you on this program! It’s an incredible chance for young practitioners like us to engage directly with the governance of net zero through voluntary initiatives. My work in this field spans multiple sectors like energy, construction, and finance. Over the past few years, I’ve concentrated on just energy transitions, in terms of strategy, theoretical frameworks, and policy to address challenges like phasing out coal power plants, and understanding the implications of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure on access and affordability. In this process I had the opportunity to work and learn from city governments, research institutions, grassroots organisations, and nonprofits. Now, I’m turning my focus towards corporate actors, especially in hard-to-abate sectors, to ensure that standard-setting and transition planning delivers tangible climate action that is equitable and just. I believe that justice, equity, and net zero are interconnected elements of a larger systemic transformation to which we have to find as many solutions (without tradeoffs) as we can to cater to polarised ideologies and uneven geographies. I really appreciate plural ways of thinking about similar challenges, and I often feel inspired while pursuing my hobbies which include tennis, woodworking, gardening, and theatre. I’m looking forward to learning from your diverse experiences and expertise, and to grow collectively during our time on this project and beyond.
Tom Maitland (he/him)
United Kingdom
I’m a Senior Policy Manager at the Confederation of British Industry, where I work on sustainable finance, capital markets, and economic policy. Prior to this, I worked as an economic policy consultant, providing advice to policymakers on fiscal policy, public finance, and decarbonisation in the UK, EU, Middle East and Eurasia. A theme throughout my career has been the interaction between economic policy and net zero. Currently this involves working on sustainable finance market architecture to help finance a whole-of-economy transition with credibility and integrity. Earlier in my career this involved analysing the economic and fiscal implications of net zero for government ministries and development banks. These experiences, which have emphasised the importance of a just transition, motivated my application to this programme. I am excited to take part in the project to learn more about a topic I care about, to build connections with people working on these challenges, and to contribute to a piece of impact-oriented piece of research. Outside of work, I love to teach myself about new things (currently basic programming, Spanish, and Mexican cuisine) and explore London (I’ve lived here for more than 10 years, but I still find something new almost every day).
Isadora Cardoso (she/her)
Brazil
I’m Isadora Cardoso, a Brazilian human rights activist, climate justice advocate, and social change artist. I’m committed to integrating equity into climate action and believe that addressing the climate crisis requires centering the voices of historically marginalized communities. With a background in public policy, research, and social impact, I have worked with international NGOs, government institutions, private firms, and grassroots organizations to promote inclusive solutions to environmental challenges. I currently serve as a Public Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Human Rights in Brazil and I’m excited to participate in this program because it aligns with my commitment to advancing equity within net-zero governance. Through my art and research, I explore the intersectionality of climate justice, focusing on how gender, race, and socioeconomic factors shape access to environmental resources and climate resilience. I hope to contribute my experiences of working with marginalized communities to ensure that climate solutions are not only sustainable but also equitable. By collaborating with this group, I want to deepen my understanding of net-zero frameworks, particularly in the Global South. Outside of my work, I’m a creative director for an international art exhibition called “Text Me When You Get Home”. Also, I enjoy taking dance classes, going to museums, and doing outdoor activities like swimming in the ocean.
Bashir Dan (he/him)
Uganda
Bashir is the founder of Stack Carbon, a startup dedicated to delivering impactful carbon removal projects and embedding equity into climate solutions. With hands-on experience in Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), biochar initiatives, and community-focused approaches, Bashir bridges technical expertise and social equity in tackling climate challenges. His work focuses on aligning corporate net-zero strategies with sustainable development goals, ensuring vulnerable communities are central to the transition. Through this program, Bashir aims to collaborate with other young leaders globally to develop practical equity criteria that enhance corporate accountability and inclusiveness in net-zero commitments. He hopes the cohort will deliver innovative solutions that drive meaningful climate action while ensuring fair outcomes for all stakeholders. Beyond his professional work, Bashir writes articles on carbon markets and climate issues, enjoys exploring nature, and values meaningful dialogue on achieving a just net-zero transition. He looks forward to contributing his expertise and learning from the diverse perspectives within this cohort to push the boundaries of equitable climate governance.
Paula Kuls (she/her)
Germany
Paula is an environmental and climate expert specializing in corporate sustainability and international climate cooperation. Currently with the UN Global Compact Network Germany, she designs and implements strategies to help businesses address critical climate and environmental challenges. Previously, Paula worked on Sino-German climate and energy cooperation where she worked with various Chinese and German government bodies and supported China’s NDC implementation at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Her motivation for joining this programme stems from her day-to-day work with companies ranging from some of Germany’s largest DAX companies to SMEs observing that equity considerations are often overlooked in corporate climate action. By joining this programme, she hopes to deepen her understanding of this subject and collaborate with the group to develop practical strategies for integrating equity into corporate climate action. Paula holds an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from the University of Oxford, where she focused on environmental administrative litigation, and a BA in East Asian Studies with Public Law from Heidelberg University. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and horse riding.
Oghenechovwe Okolosi (he/him)
Nigeria
My experience spans carbon accounting, research, and carbon management. Specifically, I volunteer as a net-zero tracker with Net-Zero Tracker and a carbon measurement coach with The Climate Change Project. Recently, I completed my Masters in Sustainable Finance and Accounting at the University of Sussex, where my research focused on how the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework influences the climate reporting practices of football clubs. I am also a volunteer and community member of Sustyvibes, a youth-based sustainability NGO in Nigeria. Through these combined experiences, I bring to the group both practical and theoretical understanding of climate reporting standards and how frameworks can influence corporate climate action, as well as insights into youth perspectives on climate justice. Building on these insights, my expectation for this group is that it catalyses a wider conversation about embedding clear and measurable equity criteria in climate reporting standards, ultimately ensuring climate justice principles become integral to corporate net-zero strategies. Beyond my volunteer engagements, I am passionate about advancing environmental sustainability in the sports industry. When not watching or playing football, I immerse myself in books and YouTube videos about climate change, minimalism, and Pan-African revolutionaries, while enjoying reggae music.
Seruni Salsabila (she/her)
Indonesia
I am a youth leader passionate about advancing equity and sustainability in global net-zero transitions. As the Project Lead of Catalyst of Change ASEAN, I oversee initiatives that transform waste into valuable products, empower marginalized communities like women waste workers, and promote circular economies (SDG 12). Through CoC ASEAN, we have collaborated with over 30 ASEAN stakeholders, including NGOs, governments, and local communities, to impact 600+ youth, 20+ women waste workers, and 30+ underserved children. At COP29, I served on the YOUNGO Global Coordination Team, organizing a youth-led climate forum featuring five thematic sessions (NCQG, food and agriculture, ACE and health, NDC 3.0, and climate mobility) and a headline event. My focus was on ensuring gender and intergenerational equity, bridging gaps between youth, negotiators, and parties. My experience at COP29 highlighted the lack of awareness and prioritization of equity within net-zero frameworks, motivating me to participate in this program to advocate for marginalized voices. I bring expertise in renewable energy policies, grassroots capacity-building, and sustainable practices. Outside work, I enjoy creative writing, exploring nature, and mentoring youth in climate action. I look forward to collaborating to drive equitable solutions for a sustainable future.
