In an era defined by rising sea levels, vanishing forests, and the urgent call for climate justice, Neo Xiao Yun has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s most influential environmental voices. A tireless advocate for sustainability, grassroots activism, and ecological resilience, Neo’s work is grounded not just in science but in a deep emotional and cultural connection to the land and sea she calls home. Born in the coastal city of Penang, Malaysia, Neo grew up at the intersection of natural wonder and environmental vulnerability. Her childhood memories, catching glimpses of sea turtles nesting on the beach, walking through once-dense mangrove forests, and hearing elders speak of a time when fish were abundant, planted the first seeds of environmental awareness.
From an early age, Neo showed a unique sensitivity to the natural world. While other children played indoors, she could be found sketching birds, collecting discarded plastics on the shore, or asking her teachers about climate change. Her early education in Penang’s public school system, combined with a home environment rich in oral traditions and local folklore, instilled in her both a scientific curiosity and a profound sense of environmental stewardship.
Her formative years were shaped not only by the natural beauty around her but also by the creeping evidence of environmental decay such as oil slicks in the water, invasive developments, and the slow disappearance of local species. These experiences would become defining motifs in her later activism. After winning a regional scholarship, she pursued Environmental Science and Policy at the National University of Singapore, where she quickly distinguished herself as a thoughtful researcher and an eloquent speaker. A transformative moment came during a field research project in Borneo, where she witnessed firsthand the human cost of illegal logging and habitat loss. The devastation she saw there, coupled with the resilience of the indigenous communities, galvanized her to dedicate her life to environmental justice.
Neo’s career has been marked by both groundbreaking achievements and persistent challenges. In 2016, she founded the GreenSpire Collective, a nonprofit that empowers young people in Southeast Asia to lead local environmental initiatives, from community composting to coastal cleanups and climate education in schools. What started as a small volunteer group quickly grew into an international network of youth-led sustainability movements. Neo’s tireless efforts earned her global recognition, including the UN Young Champions of the Earth Award and a speaking role at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), where she advocated for the inclusion of marginalized voices in global climate policy.
Yet Neo’s journey has not been without obstacles. She has faced bureaucratic red tape, a lack of institutional support, and even threats from groups resistant to environmental regulation. In interviews, she has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of climate fatigue and the difficulty of maintaining hope in the face of global inaction. But her response has always been to lean further into community, collaboration, and education. “Real change,” she once said, “begins not in policy papers, but in the hearts of people who love the places they live.”
Today, Neo Xiao Yun is more than an environmentalist. She is a mentor, storyteller, and symbol of intergenerational hope. Her legacy is carried not only in policy reforms or restored ecosystems but in the thousands of young people she has inspired to see themselves as guardians of the Earth. In a world searching for climate heroes, Neo remains grounded, reminding us all that the most powerful movements often begin with the quiet conviction of one person who dares to care.