Christiana Figueres

As Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016, Christiana Figueres successfully steered the diplomatic efforts that culminated in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a global accord widely recognized for its goal of accelerating economic transformation towards low carbon and high resilience. In this pivotal role, she led the UN Climate Change Secretariat through six annual global negotiation sessions, engaging diverse stakeholders including technology providers, financial institutions, the science community, and other societal groups to foster widespread participation. Prior to this, Figueres began her public service career in 1982 at the Embassy of Costa Rica in West Germany, serving until 1985. She then managed financial and technical cooperation programs as Director of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Planning (1987-1988) and oversaw national programs as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture (1988-1990).

Her continued influence and contributions have garnered significant international recognition, including being named an Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2022. Most recently, Figueres was named to BBC’s prestigious 100 Women list in 2023, acknowledging her enduring impact as a leader in environmental policy and diplomacy.