If someone had asked me a few years ago, I would never have imagined myself sitting in a room surrounded by some of the brightest minds on the planet, each offering unique perspectives on one of the most urgent issues of our time: climate change. Yet, there I was, part of a journey that once seemed unreachable — a fellowship whose significance I didn’t fully grasp when I first applied. Gradually, this experience became real, transforming what started as a dream into one of the most life-changing opportunities I’ve ever had.

The Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship opened my eyes to realities we often only glimpse through headlines. I met experts, academics and activists, each with their own struggles, but united by a shared passion for protecting the planet. What struck me most was discovering the deep similarities we share as people from the Global South. Despite the distances between us, we face the same challenges, cherish the same natural wealth and grapple with many of the same issues.

One session at Yale stands out vividly, where the discussions went beyond energy transitions and sustainability. We reflected on our place at the crossroads of past, present and future. Surrounded by brilliant minds, I realized that real change isn’t just about technical expertise — it’s about understanding the legacy we’ve inherited, the actions we take today and the world we wish to leave behind. The decisions we make now must align with our hopes for a sustainable future. We shouldn’t just focus on balancing development and conservation, we should focus on envisioning a future that harmonizes with nature and empowers future generations.

In our countries — such as Kenya, South Africa, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, among others — this tension is especially acute. The temptation to exploit resources is overwhelming when poverty, corruption and instability persist. Yet within these landscapes, from the depths of the Amazon to the vast savannas of Africa, we find not only the roots of our struggles but also the seeds of our solutions.

One quality we in the Global South possess in abundance is resilience. Despite hardships, battles over resources, and economic crises, there is an undeniable strength in our lands – something that goes beyond economics. It’s an optimism that rises from the green of our forests and the blue of our rivers. This hope, rooted in nature, continues to offer solutions even in the face of overwhelming challenges.

This optimism fueled the fellowship, especially during the in-person sessions with experts and fellows from around the world. These moments were impactful, not just because of the depth of discussions on energy transitions or carbon markets, but because of the insightful questions, challenging debates and shared experiences among my colleagues. Our reflections often returned to one fundamental truth: nature already holds many of the solutions we seek.

One of the most valuable lessons from the fellowship was recognizing the essential role we, from the Global South, play in shaping the global response to climate change. While it sometimes felt like our voices didn’t carry the same weight at international negotiation tables, we realized we hold a crucial advantage. Our stewardship of lands rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage gives us a perspective that is indispensable to addressing the climate crisis. The challenge now is learning to capitalize on this strength and ensuring our voices are heard.

As I reflect on this experience, I realize that what I carry with me is not just technical knowledge, but the certainty that our generation in the Global South is in a unique position. We want a prosperous future for our nations, but not at the expense of our lands and natural wealth. This tension defines us, but it also gives us hope. Because if there’s one thing that became clear during this fellowship, it’s that we are not alone. Across borders, we face the same problems and share the same solutions to overcome them.

This article is not just a testament to my journey through the Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellowship; it is a call to action for everyone who, like me, stands at the crossroads between development and conservation. Our forests, rivers and lands are not just resources to protect — they are the keys to our survival. The answers we seek have always been there, rooted in the ecosystems we’ve too often taken for granted. Now is the time to listen, act and redefine progress in a way that honors both people and the planet. The future depends on whether we have the courage to embrace the solutions nature has always offered.

RAFAEL PÁSTOR is a Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellow and the founding partner of Pástor and Allpa Labs, where he merges legal expertise with technology to address global environmental challenges. He can be reached at rpastor@pastor.law.