Artificial intelligence: a young Brazilian wins the Earth Prize with an ecological idea

By Camila Torres

Artificial intelligence and climate action: a young Brazilian wins the Earth Prize 2025

At 16 years old, Isaque Carvalho Borges became one of the youngest and most inspiring names in sustainability in Latin America. Your project EcoAção Brazil, based on artificial intelligence, it earned him the Earth Prize 2025 in the Central and South America category. The recognition included an award of USD 12,500 and highlighted an initiative that combines science, technology and social commitment to face one of the planet's greatest challenges: extreme urban heat.

Considered the largest global environmental sustainability competition for students aged 13 to 19, the Earth Prize rewards youth solutions with real impact in the face of climate change. As reported Smithsonian Magazine, the jury especially valued the project's ability to generate accessible and useful technological tools for the cities most affected by heat.

A real problem turned into an opportunity

Borges, student of Federal Institute of Tocantins, development EcoAção Brazil inspired by his own experience in Palms, one of the youngest and warmest cities in Brazil. Founded in 1989, Palmas was designed with modern urban planning criteria, but without foreseeing the environmental consequences of its growth.

“The urban design did not adequately consider the relationship between cement, vegetation and temperature,” the young man explained to the American media. In practice, this translated into micro heat islands where the temperature can exceed up to 11 degrees that of the nearby green areas. The consequences are not only thermal: they also affect health, well-being and quality of life, especially of the most vulnerable populations.

The phenomenon is not limited to Palmas. The loss of vegetation cover and the expansion of impermeable surfaces is repeated in many Latin American cities, where the increase in urban temperature is already associated with an increase in respiratory diseases and heat stroke.

Artificial intelligence to map and mitigate heat

The project EcoAção Brazil uses open access satellite data and modeling artificial intelligence to identify urban areas most affected by heat. The system analyzes variables such as soil temperature, vegetation index, construction level and solar radiation.

With this data, the model generates urban heat maps and suggests specific interventions: from reforestation and green roofs to urban redesigns with reflective materials or ventilation corridors. “When we combine all that information, we find the strategic points to act,” explained Borges.

The team, made up of 10 young volunteers, works on the publication of Tocantins Index, a metric designed to compare urban thermal anomalies and guide public policies based on scientific evidence.

Education and citizen participation

Beyond technological development, EcoAção Brazil seeks strengthen the environmental education and the citizen science. The group promotes workshops and activities in local schools to teach how data and artificial intelligence can become tools for social change.

Access to metrics and maps will be free for educational institutions and public organizations. “Our goal has always been to democratize access to information,” said Borges. In this way, technology becomes a pedagogical resource that promotes the participation of students, teachers and communities in the fight against climate change.

Latin American innovation with global impact

Borges' commitment not only reinforces the role of youth in environmental innovation, but also places Latin America on the map of artificial intelligence applied to sustainability.

Experts like Zhihua Wang, an environmental engineer at Arizona State University, highlighted the potential of this type of initiative. “It is a very promising idea to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect critical points of urban heat and design mitigation strategies,” he said in dialogue with Smithsonian Magazine.

However, Wang warns that the challenge is technical and economic: high-resolution data and models adapted to each city are needed. “There are no universal solutions; each community requires strategies adjusted to its social context, environmental and economic,” he noted.

Science, youth and future

Despite the challenges, Borges maintains an optimistic vision. Its goal is to have a functional prototype of EcoAção Brasil in December 2025 and launch a visual platform with interactive maps and metrics in 2026. The system will allow any user to identify critical heat zones, propose interventions and measure the impact of changes in real time.

The project already collaborates with local authorities of Palms and with Brazilian academic institutions. "We want the tool to be available for free to schools and local governments. It's a way to give back to the community that inspired us," said the young man.

Their initiative symbolizes the spirit of the Earth Prize: young people who, through knowledge, seek practical solutions to urgent problems. “My interest in technology, environment and social well-being led me to create something that could improve people's lives,” said Borges.