Ilona Szabó de Carvalho is the co-founder and president of the Igarapé Institute – an independent think-and-do tank focused on citizen, digital and climate security, working at the intersection of research, new technologies, communication and public policy. She is a civic entrepreneur and a globally recognized thought leader on issues of violence prevention, and civic and climate action.
Ilona serves on several boards, including the UNSG High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, Fernando Henrique Cardoso Foundation (FFHC) and the Brazilian Center of International Relations (CEBRI).
She was previously the Executive-Secretary of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy and of a national gun control campaign in Brazil. Before that, she worked for 5 years in investment banks in Rio de Janeiro. She earned a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Uppsala in Sweden, is an affiliate scholar at the Princeton University Brazil Lab, and was a public policy fellow at Columbia University in NY.
She is also a columnist at Folha de São Paulo, a podcast and TV anchor and commentator, a TED speaker, and the author of 3 books. Ilona was nominated as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum in 2015 and in 2020 as one of the world's top 50 thinkers for the Covid-19 age by Prospect Magazine.
Ilona Szabó de Carvalho says it will take broad, diverse networks of people and a radical change of mindset to tackle global threats like climate change
Future of the Amazon is at risk if deforestation levels rise by 5%. Building a green economy depends on the political will to stop illegal deforestation.
Most people believe strongly in the power of working together to face the challenges of today and tomorrow, according to a survey by the United Nations.
Deforestation is rising across the Amazon – and 90% of it is illegal. A huge collective effort is needed to prevent the region reaching a tipping point.
Homicide rates are falling after years of gruesome statistics in a region that hosts 43 of the world's 50 most violent cities – though there's still a long way to go.
Pensa-se que uma simples alteração nas leis referentes ao álcool teve um impacto importante.
Los crímenes violentos en San Pablo se han reducido drásticamente. Esta puede ser la razón.
Latin America's largest city was once among the region's most violent. But the bustling metropolis of over 12 million Paulistanos has experienced a remarkable decline in homicide rates.
Los homicidios en América Latina aumentan en un momento en que los asesinatos disminuyen prácticamente en todo el resto del mundo. La buena noticia es que no son inevitables.
Latin America is one of the most violent regions in the world. Prisons and police have done nothing to change that.
¿Qué debe hacerse para que las ciudades de América Latina sean más igualitarias y menos peligrosas?
What should be done to make Latin America's cities more equal and less dangerous?
Davos 2016: It is only by putting governments back in control that organized crime groups can be disempowered and associated corruption and violence reduced.
