Forget the sterile spreadsheets and corporate jargon. For José Tiago Sousa, ESG isn't about ticking boxes for distant investors—it's about rolling up your sleeves and showing up for real people. This Portuguese economist and PhD candidate, who has volunteered everywhere from Italian earthquake zones to Turkey, is bringing a deeply humanized vision of sustainability to Africa.

José Tiago Sousa – economist, PhD candidate in Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policies, and ESG-focused strategist – has taken part in yet another site visit under the “ESG à 5.ª” initiative promoted by IAPMEI (the Portuguese Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation). The visit, hosted by REvigres, a leading Portuguese ceramic tiles manufacturer with nearly 50 years of experience and five major international design awards to its name, provided an opportunity to observe how sustainability is being translated from strategy into practice on the factory floor.

Economist and PhD candidate in climate change and sustainable development policies, José Tiago Sousa, has issued a warning about the perverse effects of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). He argues that the instrument, as currently designed, "strangles vulnerable communities and, in various scenarios, worsens global inequalities."

José Tiago Sousa is one of the experts from the group Gender Parity for the CAC, an initiative that brings together professionals of recognized merit in the areas of sustainability, climate and public policies to defend the maintenance of gender parity in the Council for Climate Action (CAC). 

What took place during “The Prayer of Tiago” was far more than a public event. It was a deeply human moment, marked by emotion and courage. People gathered quietly, standing side by side, each holding the words of a prayer that carried the weight of a lived story. There was a sense, almost immediate, that this was not just about listening — it was about feeling, about bearing witness. As theologian Jonathan H. Mendez began reading the prayer in English, the atmosphere shifted. His voice, steady at first, gradually revealed the emotional depth of the words he was speaking.

On April 17, 2026, a new episode of the videocast "The World in Motion – Environment and Climate Action" was released, available on the Clube de Lisboa YouTube channel. This time, the topic was very important and the conversation was up to par: four young people — Afonso Neves Soares, Andreia Galvão, José Tiago de Sousa, and Joana Guerra Tadeu — came together to discuss, frankly and without simple answers, the future of the planet and the role of each one in this discovery.

On April 23rd, at 10 am, Vila do Conde will host a special moment of encounter and reflection with the realization of “The Prayer of Tiago” — a vigil open to the community that arises within the framework of the human rights movement, promoted for the activist José Tiago Sousa by Red Visión Juvenil, Escuela de Teología de El Salvador and Bastion Vert International.

The artwork “Prayer for Dignity,” by the artist Naps, depicting the humanitarian and activist José Tiago Sousa, stood out as one of the most remarkable entries in the Amnesty International Portugal Illustration Competition, the results of which were recently announced.

On March 20, 2026, the work "Prayer for Dignity," by Nuno Pinto, a large-scale graffiti mural painted as part of the Illustration Competition "Human Rights and the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic," promoted by Amnesty International Portugal, was officially admitted to the competition. A moment that does not pass in silence: José Tiago Sousa publicly expresses his irrefutable support for the candidacy, with words that are, in themselves, a reading worthy of the work.

Tiago is an ESG-focused strategist dedicated to promoting sustainable development across both public and private sectors. With a strong foundation in economics, finance, and climate policy, he combines analytical rigor with a deep understanding of environmental, social, and governance principles to guide organizations toward responsible growth.

Tiago is an educator and mentor passionate about empowering individuals to become active, responsible, and ethical leaders in their communities. Through hands-on guidance, workshops, and collaborative projects, he inspires civic engagement by teaching practical skills, critical thinking, and the importance of social responsibility.