Grass-roots Power: Paula Mariel Reyes Carrasco, championing Climate Justice from the Ground Up

Written by Kimberley Obongonyinge

Photo & Video credit, German Palero

(5 minute read)

Meet Paula Mariel Reyes Carrasco, a passionate environmental activist, mother, industrial engineer, author, PhD Graduate and lover of theatre. Paula grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and moved to Spain  to pursue her passion for environmental sustainability and climate activism. Despite growing up in the city, Paula feels deeply connected to nature. She finds unique joy, comfort and connection in the simple act of walking barefoot through the wilderness and touching the rough bark of trees. Her mother has a deep knowledge of medicinal plants and she desires to learn more about the healing properties of plants in Spain to reconnect with traditional ways of healing. From a young age, Paula has had a deep consciousness for sustainability and climate injustice; at the age of 10 she desired to be vegetarian after seeing just how much waste is produced in animal agriculture. 

“I feel a strong need to advocate for us, the people from the south, who suffer the greatest consequences [...]. There are so many reasons why I cannot imagine my life without helping as much as I can.” - Paula

After a few years of  pursuing her interest in theatre, it seemed as if she were fated to find her way back to environmental justice. She has been living in Spain for the last 6 years and during this time she completed a masters in Environmental Science and her PhD in Environmental Education For Development And Sustainability at the university of Salamanca.  

“We [women of the global majority] have a different perspective about the world. Women, who are often caregivers in these contexts, have developed several values that make us understand and empathise differently. Young people, with all the energy and illusion of the experiences we haven’t had, can also provide a special perspective.”  - Paula

She has participated in various environmental movements in Spain such as Ecologistas en Accion and Fridays For Future (Salamanca) since her arrival 6 years ago, and has deeply enjoyed her experience in these spaces feeling validated, heard and valued. Although, she has noticed a pattern of missing voices; she was often the only woman of colour in each of these spaces. In Spain it is difficult to find women of the global majority (women of colour) engaging in this activism for various reasons but the voices of women of the global majority in these spaces are essential to holistic solutions which benefit everyone. 

“I also think about the system where a small group of people control our whole lives, and fear for the innocent and marvellous species out there who are suffering the sixth mass extinction [...].The climate crisis is such a big problem caused by patriarchal systems so it requires a solution outside of the box where it was created”  - Paula

Paula's work focuses on encouraging grassroots participation in climate activism, particularly among young people. Paula’s research explores how a bottom up approach can be used to enhance participation in climate activism. Her work therefore, explores approaches for how we can better engage the people on the ground, especially young people, to participate in and lead climate movements and initiatives in a meaningful way. 

In addition to engaging in environmental activism in Spain Paula has a deep desire to impart her knowledge with environmental leaders in her home country. The Dominican Republic has been identified as the 11 most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change. However, engaging in climate activism in southern Abya Yala (South America), especially as a woman can be incredibly dangerous not just for the participating individual, but also their loved ones. 

Paula Mariel Reyes Carrasco embodies a passionate and dedicated environmental activist whose work spans continents and cultures, driven by a deep commitment to fostering inclusive and effective solutions to the pressing climate crisis. There is so much we can learn from her! 

Meet Paula in our video here!