Climate Democracy Initiative Names Natalie Montecino as New Executive Director

The Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) is very pleased to announce the appointment of Natalie Montecino as its Executive Director. CDI is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization founded to make the critical connection between climate action and democratic rejuvenation in support of building more resilient communities, re-establishing social trust, and securing a thriving future for all.

Through early in her career, Natalie is a burgeoning, accomplished leader with experience in grassroots community engagement, international collaboration, and environmental governance. She previously served as CDI’s Deputy Director, overseeing rural programming development and international partnerships. In addition to her role with CDI, Natalie serves as the instructor for Stanford University’s e-Minamata program, teaching high school students about critical topics including the environment, emerging technologies, and U.S.-Japan relations. As a Fulbright Fellow in Japan, she investigated the role of young people and universities is supporting rural revitalization, civic participation, and sustainable development efforts.

“CDI is delighted to have Natalie Montecino take the reins as Executive Director,” said Board Chair, John Powers. “Natalie is extraordinary and has already demonstrated skills, organization, insight, and capability far beyond her years. CDI was impressed from the outset and hired her with high hopes, which have been exceeded.”

Roberta Baskin, CDI board member and distinguished leader in journalism, shared, “As a career investigative journalist, my work centered on facts and truthful reporting. That’s why I believe disinformation, the purposeful misrepresentation of the facts, has exacerbated the climate crisis and undermines the democracy we need to find solutions. I am heartened that CDI, under the energetic leadership of Natalie Montecino, is targeting disinformation as a top priority in 2025. Only with a clear understanding of the facts can we, as a society, take uniform, sustainable climate and democracy action.”

The opportunity to lead the Climate Democracy Initiative is an extraordinary honor,” Natalie said. “I am deeply grateful to the board for entrusting me with this mission at such a critical moment in environmental and social decline. CDI’s commitment to addressing the intersection of climate and democracy inspires me, and I am eager to engage with partners worldwide to amplify our collective impact.”

CDI‘s work comes at a critical moment when urgent challenges and transformative opportunities are converging. Climate volatility continues to escalate, with rising temperatures, growing numbers of climate refugees, shifting ecosystems, and increased extreme weather events that are deeply disrupting lives around the world.

Simultaneously, democratic systems are under attack as we grapple with declining public trust, heightened polarization, rising disinformation and misinformation, and structural inequities that block inclusive decision-making. These crises are underming global stability and exacerbating extreme inequality.

Ann Florini, CDI Board Vice Chair, added that, “the Board is delighted to have Natalie’s passion, creativity, and strategic acumen driving the organization as we implement our ambitious agenda to address the interlocking challenges of climate change and democratic resilience. Her extraordinary ability to work across varied constituencies is a critical asset at a time when rapid action is both essential and hard to achive.

Born in Littleton, Colorado, Natalie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Internation Dtudie from Colorado State University with concentrations in Japanese, French, International Development, and Political Science. Natalie is one of fifty young leaders chosen from around the world, one of five from the U.S., as a Davos50 delegate and guest speaker ar the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Additionally, she is an alumna of the Asia Foundation’s LeadNext: Ambassadors for a Global Future program and the Critical Language Scholarship’s Japanese program.

With Natalie at the helm, CDI is poised to deepen its impact and scale its efforts to tackle climate challenges and defend democratic values worldwide.

Contact: Peter Brown

Phone: (718) 419-4590

Email: peter@climatedemocracyinitiative.org