Daniela Larios Castillo is a 26-year-old environmental engineer from Honduras. She is the founder of an environmental movement in Honduras called ECO, which is dedicated to reducing the use of plastic and creating environmental awareness in her country. Here she reflects on her path to climate activism, Sail for Climate Action, and what the future holds.
My journey to climate activism
Being a climate activist has been somewhat complicated for me. In my country, it is not something you see often so it can be difficult to have the courage to continue. However, I have met incredible Hondurans along the way who motivate me and are my role models.
I was originally inspired by a love for our planet and my personal need to take action. Today, I am involved with plastic-free movements and marine conservation. My main focus has been to educate others about consumerism, and to encourage people to take action with what they have. With this goal in mind I founded a zero waste shop called ECO, which offers Hondurans sustainable bamboo alternatives to single-use plastic and raises awareness about plastic pollution and overconsumption. This shop and its community are also part of the environmental movement in Honduras, participating in beach cleanups, supporting conservation projects, and creating environmental education campaigns.
For me, climate activism is about the climate and social justice together.
Sail for Climate Action
My involvement with Sail for Climate Action (S4CA) was really unexpected. I was training for a job I didn‘t really want to take. One day, out of nowhere, I received a link for the S4CA application form. I applied with no hope at all of being selected, since I had always thought that there were so many people in the world doing more for the climate movement than me. But a couple of days later I got an email—they wanted to interview me, and I couldn‘t believe it. In the end, I got selected. I am so grateful for the opportunity. My S4CA companions are a second family to me. They are incredible people who have taught me so much.
Our mini society on the sea
It was an amazing experience, learning about so many different people, with different cultures, personalities, and dreams. One of the most challenging group conversations for me was the discussion on transportation, an important part of the climate crisis conversation. The difference was very stark in terms of countries where it is safe to use public transportation and countries, like mine, in which we do not have efficient or safe public transport. I both observed and participated in this discussion, and I even learned some ideas that could work in Honduras.
Overall, one of my biggest personal lessons was on the value of listening. It sounds simple, but when you give someone space and empower their voice to tell their story, everything changes.
The global pandemic
I had to leave the day before the trip was officially called off because my dad was in the hospital. I flew home to Tegucigalpa, Honduras and I saw my dad, but unfortunately he passed away two days after my arrival. My original plan was to meet everyone else in Europe a month later, but when the organizers told me the trip was getting canceled because of the pandemic, I was really sad. My hope to see all of my friends again soon was what was getting me through this difficult time with my family.
I felt a bit disconnected from everything, a lot of big changes and loss had happened in just a few days. But my S4CA family helped me a lot. We started having online meetings and workshops to figure out how to continue our work, and thankfully we are still working together today.
What’s next
As an activist, I am focused on raising awareness of the importance of the Escazu Agreement and demanding that the Honduran government sign and ratify it. This agreement is the first environmental human rights treaty in Latin America and the Caribbean, and it was approved in March of 2018 after six years of negotiations. It seeks to ensure access to information, citizen participation, and access to justice in environment matters, developing Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment. Twenty-one states have signed the agreement.
Personally, I am focused on being a better person and activist, and on learning more each day. My biggest challenge is to be heard in a country that has so many political and social problems that people don‘t see climate action as a priority—even though it is all interrelated. We are growing and raising awareness every day though.
