During NYC Climate Week 2025, Campaign Shine is shining the spotlight on Isaias Hernandez, widely known as Queer Brown Vegan. He brings vital conversations about climate change and identity, especially focusing on marginalized communities. Growing up in a low-income family in Los Angeles, he uses his platform to educate and inform a following of over 182,000.
Inspired by shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy, Hernandez started a YouTube series called Teaching Climate Together. His episodes take him from the scenic Joshua Tree to interviews with environmental experts. He’s also gearing up to release his first book, Dear Environmentalist, in April 2027.
Reflecting on his childhood, Hernandez recalls growing up in a Los Angeles apartment squeezed between chemical factories. His mom cultivated tomatoes and peppers on their windowsill. Instead of chasing after toys, he learned to appreciate the beauty of living plants. They would scavenge for fallen flowers to replant at home—teaching him the value of nature.
Monthly trips to parks felt like rejuvenation. Although surrounded by urban sprawl, those nature escapes left him feeling alive. He remembers picking up mushrooms, even though his parents warned they could be poisonous. Hernandez emphasizes, “Touching a mushroom won’t kill you. Eating it? Maybe.”
His neighbors gifted fresh fruits from their trees, instilling in him a deep appreciation for nature. But much of that greenery was lost when development took over. He describes the feeling of “solastalgia”—a sadness for the changes in familiar surroundings. This motivated his desire to plant his own fruit tree one day.
Hernandez’s environmental education began early. He often accompanied his dad to landscaping jobs, learning hands-on skills like weeding and maintaining plants. Later, he pursued a degree in environmental science at UC Berkeley. His career path seemed rocky, but a chance encounter at a sustainability conference led him to start documenting his journey on social media.
Creating Queer Brown Vegan
Initially, Queer Brown Vegan was a personal project. Sharing his eco-friendly lifestyle—like using public transport in New York and adopting a zero-waste approach—helped him gain visibility in the environmental community. The name reflects his intention to foster discussions around diversity in environmentalism.
Hernandez believes that everyone deserves clean air and water, but systemic inequalities make this difficult. By sharing his story, he hopes to inspire others who feel they don’t belong in environmental spaces. One young Latina reached out to him, sharing that his videos motivated her to pursue a degree in environmental science—something she once thought impossible.
His YouTube series aims to make environmental education more engaging, with 30- to 40-minute episodes. He’s self-funded six episodes through brand partnerships, exploring locations like Helsinki and the Bay Area. His commitment is to provide free educational resources for teachers and organizations, enhancing access to vital climate knowledge.
Collaborations and Climate Week
Last year, he collaborated with Ecos, a sustainable cleaning products brand, on a storytelling project called Sustainable Jobs. Instead of just showcasing products, they delved into how these items are made and the importance of non-toxic ingredients. For Hernandez, educating younger generations who primarily consume news on social media is crucial.
At Climate Week NYC, Hernandez calls for more investments in climate media. Recent data shows that almost 5,400 data centers exist in the U.S., requiring massive amounts of water and energy. This brings environmental challenges and community concerns, as neighborhoods face rising costs and resource depletion.
A Personal Connection to Nature
Today, Hernandez lives in a studio in L.A. where he maintains a terrarium and nurtures various plants. Four hummingbirds visit his balcony regularly—a little habitat he has created in the urban jungle. He still practices urban foraging and finds joy in sharing fruit with neighbors, continuing the cycle of community and nature.
While dreaming of living in a forested home one day, he cherishes the return of fruit trees in his neighborhood. Hernandez’s journey embodies the connection between personal history and climate activism, reminding us all of the beauty and urgency of nurturing both our communities and the environment.
For further insights on environmental education, check out the Education Week article on social media in climate education.
