Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s “Evolved Woman of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the climate researcher, activist, and Sudanese native, Lina Yassin.
Yassin was born and raised in Khartoum, Sudan, a country known for its deserts and the Nile valleys. She first understood the reality of climate change during the destructive 2013 floods, which caused widespread damage. As a child, she was puzzled that the Nile, which gave life to her community, could also bring danger.
In her early teens, she began sharing stories about how climate change was affecting her community. However, under the oppressive rule of Omar Al-Bashir in Sudan, youth activism was seen as a threat, making open advocacy difficult. Despite these risks, she worked with other passionate Sudanese activists to raise awareness and carry out adaptation projects.
Yassin’s life changed on April 6, 2019. She remembers the energy in the air as she marched with others for change in Sudan. People shouted “peace, freedom, justice!” until their voices were hoarse, united in hope that decades of authoritarian rule would end. After months of protests, the people succeeded in removing President Al-Bashir, who had ruled for nearly 30 years.
The revolution was a significant turning point for Yassin. Standing with people of all ages and backgrounds, she felt the power of working together. Inspired by this, she became more involved with pro-democracy groups and youth-led climate advocacy, recognizing the connection between political freedom and climate justice. During this time, Yassin founded the Sudan Youth Organization for Climate Change.
The changes in Sudan motivated Yassin to study climate change further. She applied to Oxford University and received a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust scholarship, which allowed her to attend. She earned an MSc in environmental change and management from Oxford.
Yassin now works at the International Institute for Environment and Development. She supports the Least Developed Countries Group at the UNFCCC, focusing on climate adaptation negotiations. She provides technical and policy advice on the Global Goal on Adaptation and national adaptation plans.
Yassin works closely with LDC negotiators, ministers, and policymakers. She ensures their positions are grounded in substantial research and that global decisions reflect the needs of the most climate-vulnerable countries.
Before joining IIED, Lina gave technical advice on climate finance to the Sudanese delegation at COP. She also led training programs for journalists at Climate Tracker, advised on climate adaptation projects in Sudan with Landell Mills for the EU Global Climate Change Alliance, and studied media freedom policies at City, University of London.
Lina Yassin discusses her Oxford experience and the value of diverse thought there.
“It was in moments like these that I fully grasped how my unique perspective as a Sudanese student enriched discussions at Oxford, contributing an essential dimension often absent from climate dialogues at elite institutions.”
-Lina Yassin
Lina Yassin, who is still in her early twenties, has made it her life’s mission to amplify the voices of those unheard in global climate change discussions. The least developed nations often bear the burden of the climate crisis, experiencing extreme weather events. The Evolving Folks Project applauds Lina Yassin for giving a voice to the unheard. Today, we honor Lina Yassin as our Evolved Woman of the Week.
Evolving Folks Project 