Mr. Hans Jacob Frydenlund Ambassador
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Mr. Hans Jacob Frydenlund
Ambassador ,
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Hans Jacob Frydenlund is presently Norwegian Ambassador to India. Before coming to India, he was Director for UN Policy in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Frydenlund has served in Chile, at the Norwegian Mission to the European Union in Brussels, at the Norwegian Mission to the United Nations in New York and has been Norwegian Representative to the Palestinian Authority. He has worked for thirteen years in different capacities with conflict resolution in Africa. He has been Press Spokesman for International Development in the Ministry. Frydenlund was born in 1959, is an economist by education, is married and has three grown-up children
Dr. Junaid AhmadCountry Director, India
The World Bank
Dr. Junaid Ahmad
Country Director, India,
The World Bank
Mr. Junaid Ahmad, a Bangladeshi national, is currently the World Bank Country Director for India. Prior to this assignment, he was the Chief of Staff, Office of the President. Prior to his work in the President?s Office, Mr. Ahmad was the Senior Director for the Water Global Practice, a position in which he brought a strong track record of management and leadership in the area of service delivery and international partnerships, combining intellectual and analytical rigor with strategic operational focus. Mr. Ahmad has also worked in the areas of urban finance and city management, service delivery in federal systems, and local government reform. Mr. Ahmad joined the Bank as a Young Professional in 1991, working as an Economist in Africa and Eastern Europe before joining the Africa Infrastructure Unit. Mr. Ahmad spent 10 years in the field, first as the Deputy Resident Representative and Principal Economist in Johannesburg, and then as Regional Team Leader of the Water and Sanitation Program in New Delhi. In 2004, he was a team member of the World Development Report (WDR): Making Services Work for Poor People. From 2004-2008, he was the Sector Manager for Social Development in South Asia Region and subsequently for Urban, Water & Sanitation before taking on the latter responsibility for the Africa Region in 2010. He was also the Director for Sustainable Development in the Middle East and North Africa Region, a position he held from 2012-2014. He holds a PhD in Applied Economics from Stanford University, an MPA from Harvard University, and a BA in Economics from Brown University
Dr. Irfaan Ali President
Republic of Guyana
Dr. Irfaan Ali
President,
Republic of Guyana
His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Mr. Hussain AlmahmoudiChief Executive Officer
Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park
Mr. Hussain Almahmoudi
Chief Executive Officer,
Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park
H.E. Hussain serves a dual role as the CEO of American University of Sharjah Enterprises (AUSE) and as the CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP). Both these entities were established through royal decree by the Ruler of Sharjah, who also directly appointed H.E. Hussain to these responsibilities in order to create collaborative long-term relationships between industry, academia and the public sector, fostering an ecosystem of enterprise and innovation. Previously, H.E. Hussain served as the Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Member of the UAE Chamber Federation, and GCC Chambers for 8 years. He was responsible for the overall management and operations of the Chamber including the provision of services to its members. In this role, he launched several strategic economic initiatives for Sharjah such as the SME Act, Sharjah Export Centre, Sharjah Commercial Arbitration Centre, and the Sharjah Business Forum. H.E. Hussain has held leadership roles at leading regional and international companies such as the Royal Dutch Shell Group, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), and several Dubai Holding entities. He currently serves as honorary board member of both, the Tatweer Forum and of Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and as chairman of the Emirates Business Council for Sustainable Development. He also serves as a board member of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa). H.E. Hussain possesses an MBA from the American University of Sharjah and a BA in Economics and Communications from Seattle Pacific University in the US
Ms. Mariam AlmheiriUAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment
UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Ms. Mariam Almheiri
UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment ,
UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri is appointed as the Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE. In this capacity, she leads the Ministry?s mission of spearheading the UAE?s drive to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, protect the country?s ecosystems, and enhance its food and water security through developing and implementing effective measures, policies, and initiatives. Prior to her current role, Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri was appointed as Minister of State for Food and Water Security. Her responsibilities included monitoring national food stocks and water supply, channeling investments in food and water technology innovation, and building international partnerships in this area. Previously, Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri held the post of Minister of State for Food Security, where she oversaw the development of the necessary infrastructure to achieve the country?s food security objectives in line with the UAE Centennial (2071)
Mr. Ugo AstutoAmbassador
Delegation of the European Union
Mr. Ugo Astuto
Ambassador,
Delegation of the European Union
Ugo Astuto entered the Italian Diplomatic Service in 1991. His career in the Italian Foreign Service spans experience in the Embassies in Nairobi and London (including as alternate Director for Italy in the EBRD-European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), in the Permanent Representation in Brussels and in the Embassy in Delhi, where he served as Deputy Head of Mission. From February 2013 until July 2016 he was seconded to the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, first as Director for South and South East Asia and then as Deputy Managing Director/Director for Asia and the Pacific. From July 2016 to September 2019 he was the Principal Director for Asia in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. He is the Ambassador of the European Union to India since October 2019
Mr. Atul BagaiCountry Director - India, United Nations Environment Programme
Country Director - India, United Nations Environment Programme
Mr. Atul Bagai
Country Director - India, United Nations Environment Programme,
Country Director - India, United Nations Environment Programme
Shri. Atul Bagai is the Country Head for United Nations Environment Programme?s (UNEP) India Office. UNEP is UNs leading global environmental body that sets the global environmental agenda. After UNEP established its footprint in India in 2016, Shri. Bagai has decisively led from the front to fulfil its mandate across Climate Change; Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality; Environmental Governance; Resource Efficiency; Environment under Review; Healthy & Productive Ecosystems and Resilience to Disasters and Conflicts. Some notable work done in the last three years has been: ? Successfully organized the biggest ever World Environment Day celebrations in 2018 with commitments to end single-use plastic in India by 2022; ? Successfully assisted the Ministry of Finance to establish a Task Force for framing the Sustainable Public Procurement Action Plan; ? Helped kick-start a global initiative on The Partnership for Action on Green Economy with UNEP as the lead agency in India; and ? Laid strong foundation for partnerships with the MoEFCC, Ministry of Railways, MoHUA, MoHFW, Central Pollution Control Boards and State Governments. Previously, as a career civil servant, Shri. Bagai rose to be the Director (Ozone) in MoEFCC, Government of India before joining UNEP in 2000. He worked on various senior positions in the State of Uttar Pradesh and the Central Government. As a UN veteran he has spent over two-decades spearheading challenging assignments in regions across South and Southeast Asia & the Pacific Islands
Mr. Manish BapnaPresident and CEO
Natural Resources Defense Council
Mr. Manish Bapna
President and CEO,
Natural Resources Defense Council
Manish Bapna joined NRDC as president and chief executive officer in August 2021, taking the reins of this environmental organization of more than 700 attorneys, scientists, advocates, and policy experts at a pivotal time in history. During his 25-year career, Bapna?s leadership roles have focused on designing sustainable development strategies that are equitable, durable, and scalable. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and managing director of the World Resources Institute (WRI) for more than 14 years. During Bapna?s tenure, WRI greatly increased its impact and reach, with staff and budget expanding sixfold. A strong believer in global collaboration, Bapna played the lead role in establishing WRI offices in Brazil, China, and India and was a key architect of several influential, multi-stakeholder initiatives, such as the Global Commission on Adaptation, NDC Partnership, New Climate Economy, and the International Research Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals
Mr. Seydou Bari Sidbie Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
Republic of Guinea
Mr. Seydou Bari Sidbie
Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development,
Republic of Guinea
Mr.Seydou Bari Sidbie is an advisor to the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development in Guinea
Mr. Espen Barth EideMinister of Climate and Environment
The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment
Mr. Espen Barth Eide
Minister of Climate and Environment,
The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment
Espen Barth Eide (born 1 May 1964, in Oslo) is a Norwegian politician and political scientist. He is currently serving as the Minister of Climate and the Environment in Jonas Gahr St?res government. He has been a been a Member of the Norwegian Parliament since 2017, representing the Labour Party. He was elected to this seat in the 2017 election, and reelected in the 2021 election. From 2017 to 2021, Eide was the Labour Partys spokesperson for Energy, Climate and Environment. On 22 August 2014, Barth Eide was appointed United Nations Special Adviser on Cyprus by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He continued in this capacity under current Secretary-General Ant¢nio Guterres until 14 August 2017, when he stepped down from his UN role in order to engage in the election campaign in Norway. Eide during the WEF 2013 From 2014 to 2016 he served as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. Barth Eide served as Norways Minister of Defence in Stoltenbergs Second Cabinet from 2011 to 2012,[4] and subsequently as Minister of Foreign Affairs until 2013. Since December 2013, Barth Eide has served as a member of the Board of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). He was chair of the Board until 14 October 2021. He was a member of the boards of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Norwegian Atlantic Committee until the same date
Mr. Ranjit BarthakurFounder & President
Balipara Foundation
Mr. Ranjit Barthakur
Founder & President,
Balipara Foundation
Ranjit Barthakur is an Indian businessman, hailing from Jorhat, Assam. He is the Executive Chairman of Royal Multisport Pvt. Ltd., the company that owns the Indian Premier League team, Rajasthan Royals
Ms. Xiye BastidaCo Founder
Re-Earth Initiative
Ms. Xiye Bastida
Co Founder ,
Re-Earth Initiative
Xiye Bastida is a teenage climate activist based in New York City and one of the starters of Fridays For Future in NYC. Xiye was born and raised in Mexico as part of the Otomi-Toltec Indigenous Peoples. She trained youth over the summer of 2019 for the Climate March that mobilized over 300,000 people in NYC. On April 22, 2020 she launched Re-Earth Initiative with volunteers from the five continents to expand the climate justice movement and educate on how and why pledge for personal and systemic change. Since 2018 she has spoken at the 9th UN World Urban Forum, American Renewable Energy (AREDay), COP25, COP26, Earth X, the Inter Parliamentary Union, the Biden Climate Summit and Global Citizen. Her message in interviews, op-eds and books is about the intersectionality of climate justice and the role of indigenous peoples in protecting ecosystems and bioregions
Mr. Suman BerySenior Visiting Fellow
Centre for Policy Research
Mr. Suman Bery
Senior Visiting Fellow,
Centre for Policy Research
Mr Suman Bery is Senior Visiting Fellow at Centre for Policy Research. He also serves as a Global Fellow in the Asia program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC. and a Non-resident Fellow of Bruegel, Brussels. From 2012 to 2016 Suman was Chief Economist of Shell International, based in The Netherlands and advised the Board and management of Royal Dutch Shell on global economic and political developments While at Shell he led a collaborative project with Indian think tanks to apply scenario modelling to India?s energy sector. Suman had earlier served as Director-General (Chief Executive) of the NCAER in New Delhi. His professional writing includes contributions on the political economy of reform, financial sector and banking reform, and energy trends and policy. His graduate degree in public policy was at Princeton?s School of Public and International Affairs, following an undergraduate degree (in Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Magdalen College, University of Oxford
Mr. Michael R. BloombergUN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition & Solutions, Founder of Bloomberg LP
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Mr. Michael R. Bloomberg
UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition & Solutions, Founder of Bloomberg LP,
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Mike Bloomberg is an entrepreneur and three-term mayor of New York City whose innovations in business, government, and philanthropy have made him a pioneering leader on critical global issues. Bloomberg LP, the technology and media company he launched in 1981, revolutionized the investment industry and now employs some 20,000 people. Elected mayor just weeks after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Bloomberg led New York City?s resurgence ? spearheading the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan, cutting carbon emissions, increasing New Yorkers? life expectancy by three years, and spurring record job growth. His foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, works on initiatives in public health, education, the environment, government innovation, and the arts, as well fighting COVID-19. He has given away more than $11 billion. Bloomberg serves as UN Secretary-General?s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and as WHO Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Business School
Prof. Tony CaponDirector
Monash Sustainable Development Institute
Prof. Tony Capon
Director,
Monash Sustainable Development Institute
Tony Capon directs the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and holds a chair in planetary health in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. A public health physician and authority in environmental health and health promotion, his research focuses on urbanisation, sustainable development and human health. Tony is a former director of the International Institute for Global Health at United Nations University (UNU-IIGH), and has previously held professorial appointments at the University of Sydney and Australian National University. He is a member of the Rockefeller Foundation?Lancet Commission on Planetary Health that published its report Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch in 2015, and the International Advisory Board for The Lancet Planetary Health
Mr. Rohit ChandraCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer
OMC Power Pvt Ltd
Mr. Rohit Chandra
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer,
OMC Power Pvt Ltd
Rohit is the co-founder and CEO of OMC Power. Under his stewardship OMC Power has today become one of the leading mini-grid RESCO in the world with a portfolio of 270 power plants generating 36MWH renewable energy. With this achievement, OMC is directly impacting over 100,000 consumers lives and providing reliable energy to 230 telecom towers. Rohit has been instrumental at developing the unique ABC model at OMC, bringing reliable and affordable power to millions of people and thousands of enterprises which is advancing economic and social development in rural Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. With over 3 decades of senior management experience in telecom, Rohit has held C-level positions in Ericsson, Aircel, Uninor where he has been credited of launching nationwide services; swiftest customer acquisition and fastest IT infrastructure and Network rollouts. An avid traveller and people person, he is passionate about the Energy and rural utility cohorts
Mr. Vikram ChandraFounder
Editorji Technologies Pvt Ltd
Mr. Vikram Chandra
Founder ,
Editorji Technologies Pvt Ltd
Vikram is the founder of Editorji Technologies - a start-up that seeks to transform video news through innovation in user experience, using artificial intelligence. Provides personalised video newscasts on mobile phones and can be downloaded at editorji.com/download. In his earlier avatar, Vikram was one of Indias best- known TV news anchors, presenting "The Big Fight", 9 o?clock News, Gadget Guru, Cleanathon, Greenathon and ?Save our Tigers?. Vikram has been named ?Global Leader for Tomorrow? by the World Economic Forum in Davos and has won Indian Television Academy Award, Hero Honda and Teacher?s Achievement Award for "Best Anchorperson? for Talk shows
Dr. Rajiv ChhibberVice President
Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd
Dr. Rajiv Chhibber
Vice President,
Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd
Dr Rajiv Chhibber is a Senior Corporate Affairs, Policy, Communications & Media Strategist with experience across several industries including Pharmaceuticals/Medical Devices and has worked in the past in the Development Sector in the key areas of Healthcare, Climate Change, Energy and Sustainable Development. Dr Chhibber is currently Vice President of External Affairs at Sahajanand Medical Technologies, a leading developer and manufacturer of minimally invasive coronary stent systems. Dr Chhibber holds a master?s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a bachelor?s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. He has a post-graduate diploma in Newspaper and Feature writing (Montgomery College, University of Maryland, USA) and pursued a Public Health Leadership in-professional course in NCDs from Emory University, Atlanta USA (2014-15) and a Communications Development Programme in Public Health Engagement by Wellcome Trust, UK at the London School of Hygiene and Topical Medicine (LSHTM), UK, (March 2016). He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Aztec?s University (UNESCO), Mexico in the year June 2019 the field of " Global Public Health Communication and Policy". He is a member of various industry associations committees / sub-committees in areas of public health advocacy, Pharma, Medical Devices, NCDs, nutrition, tobacco control, and climate change where he plays a stewardship role in creating the vision for India?s MedTech and healthcare system, assisting the governments vision to achieve India?s Health Goals
Ms. Nivedita CholayilResearch Associate
The Energy and Resources Institute
Ms. Nivedita Cholayil
Research Associate,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Nivedita Cholayil is currently working at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on issues related to sustainable development and climate action, in terms of both research and advocacy. She is academically trained in economics and international studies, with professional experience in research, media and communications. She has previously worked as a business journalist with Reuters News Agency, and as researcher at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Niti Aayog. Her research interests include climate change adaptation, sustainable development, gender and international economics
Mr. Manish ChourasiaManaging Director
Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd
Mr. Manish Chourasia
Managing Director ,
Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd
Profile of Mr Manish Chourasia Managing Director, Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd Mr Manish Chourasia is a financial services professional with over 25 years of experience in origination, credit risk assessment and syndication in the Asia- Pacific Region. As part of the above-mentioned functional categories, he has handled various products covering project finance, trade finance, and investment banking. Since July, 2015, he has been working in Tata Group as managing director of Tata Cleantech Capital, which is the first private sector Green Investment Bank in emerging markets, jointly promoted by Tata Group and International Finance Corporation (IFC). During his tenure till date, the company, starting from scratch, has funded over 250 projects in Clean-tech sector saving 15.8 million tons of CO2 annually, executed a number of marquee advisory assignments, and tied up with a number of global climate finance investors to channelize low-cost funds to the Clean-tech sector in India. The company is rated ?AAA? by CRISIL, an S&P Global company primarily driven by its top-class asset book of USD 850 million, as on March 31, 2021. In Sept 2021, the company became first Indian entity to be inducted in Global Green Banking Network comprising National Green Banks across the world. Manish is a Mechanical Engineer from IIT, Rookee and an MBA from Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University. In 2012 he completed his CFA and since then has been active volunteer with CFA Institute, USA. In Feb 2020 he was presented ?100 Topmost Influential BFSI Leaders? award by World BFSI Congress. Recently in June 2021 he was made one of the 3 co-chairs of Global High-level Taskforce formed by ISA for mobilizing USD 1 trillion towards deployment of solar energy technologies and expand solar markets in member countries. Manish is an avid runner with several long-distance runs to his credit
Ms. Helen ClarksonChief Executive Officer
Climate Group
Ms. Helen Clarkson
Chief Executive Officer,
Climate Group
Helen joined the Climate Group in 2017 as its Chief Executive Officer. In addition to leading the growing Climate Group team, Helen sits on the board of the We Mean Business Coalition, chairs the Finance & Audit Committee for the Sustainable Development Capital Energy Efficiency Income Trust, and is on the Mission Council for Pukka Herbs. Prior to joining the Climate Group, Helen worked at Forum for the Future, M‚decins Sans FrontiŠres, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte
Mr. Chandrashekhar DasguptaDistinguished Fellow Emeritus
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr. Chandrashekhar Dasgupta
Distinguished Fellow Emeritus,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr Dasgupta, an alumnus of Delhi University had an illustrious diplomatic career as an officer with Indian Foreign Service officer from 1962 until his retirement in 2000. As Distinguished Fellow at TERI he is engaged with research on Climate Change and other global environmental issues. As an Advisor to the Indian delegation for COP meetings since 2002, Mr Dasgupta has been among the countrys top climate change negotiators and is also member of the Prime Ministers Council on Climate Change and a member of CESCR. His interests include international affairs, modern history and global environmental issues. He is also a member of the EU Round Table and a life-member of the Institute of Defence Studies & Analyses and the United Services Institute. He writes regularly for The Telegraph on foreign policy and national security issues. In 2008, Mr Dasgupta was awarded the Padma Bhushan in recognition of his distinguished service in the field of Civil Services. During his diplomatic career Mr Dasgupta held several important posts, including the following: ? Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg (1996-2000); ? Ambassador to China (1993-1996); ? Led the Indian delegation in the negotiations leading up to UNFCCC and the Rio Summit (1992) and served as a vice-chairman of the preparatory committees for both UNFCCC and UNCED. ? Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (1989-1993); ? Ambassador & Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations, ? New York (1986-1989); ? High Commissioner in Tanzania (1984-1986); ? High Commissioner in Singapore (1981-1983)
Mr. Vincenzo de LucaAmbassador of Italy
Embassy of Italy
Mr. Vincenzo de Luca
Ambassador of Italy,
Embassy of Italy
Vincenzo De Luca, Born in Naples on 7th November 1959, took office on 1 February 2016 as Director-General for Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Italy, after having served in the same Directorate General as Deputy Director-General and Principal Director for the Internationalisation of the Italian Economic System (since January 2014). He has been a career diplomat since 1989 and has been given several assignments at the Foreign Ministry and at the diplomatic representations in Khartoum, Tunis, Paris (at the permanent Representation at the OECD) and in Shanghai. He has a long-standing expertise in the internationalisation of the economic system of the public and private sector, both in Central Offices, in the capacity of Diplomatic Advisor of the Ministries of Industry, Transports and Economic Development, and in large corporations like ENI and ENEL, where he served as Vice President for Institutional International Relations. During the past few years, he played a relevant role in the organisation of the EXPO Milano 2015 as President of the Foreign Ministry?s Task Force, capitalising on his experience as Consul General in Shanghai. He is serving as the Ambassador of Italy to India and Nepal since December 2019
Ms. Laura de VriesAmbassador European Climate Pact
European Commission
Ms. Laura de Vries
Ambassador European Climate Pact,
European Commission
Laura de Vries is committed to a livable future by working on a future-proof, accelerated, inclusive climate transition and a circular economy. She does this, among other things, by representing the voice of young people in politics and government as board member government & politics at the Dutch Youth Climate Movement. As European Climate Pact Ambassador, Laura has been recognized by the European Commission in her role as climate ambassador and is part of an Europe-wide network of climate ambassadors. In this role, she is committed to youth participation and an inclusive and accelerated climate transition. Laura is also a Climate Ambassador of the Future. Under the leadership of the then Dutch climate envoy, she followed a process to become a climate ambassador. Laura has a job as a consultant and interim project leader for sustainability and the energy transition
Dr. Suneel DeambiSolar PV Expert
Working in an independent capacity
Dr. Suneel Deambi
Solar PV Expert ,
Working in an independent capacity
I have been working on the practical aspects of Solar PV technology since 1990 & am a prolific writer on energy-environment issues
Mr. Nitin DesaiChairman - Governing Council
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr. Nitin Desai
Chairman - Governing Council ,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr Nitin Desai is a Former Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, UN. Mr Desai is a distinguished economist and a well-known voice in public policy for a nationally and internationally, especially in the sustainable development sector. He was in the Planning Commission (1973-88) and later served as the Chief Economic Adviser and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, in the Ministry of Finance (1988-90). He also served as Senior Economic Adviser for the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) where he introduced the concept of sustainable development. He was the Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs in the UN, where his major contributions included the organization of a series of global summits, notably the Rio Earth Summit (1992), the Copenhagen Social Development Summit (1995), the Monterrey Finance and Development Summit (2002) and the Johannesburg Sustainable Development Summit (2002). He oversaw the creation of the Commission on Sustainable Development in the UN, and was the first Under Secretary General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development
Dr. Vibha DhawanDirector General
The Energy and Resources Institute
Dr. Vibha Dhawan
Director General,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Dr. Vibha Dhawan is associated with The Energy and Resources Institute since 1985. She also served as the Vice-Chancellor of TERI School of Advanced Studies from 2005-2007. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India. Dr. Dhawan is actively involved in research as well as policy development, both at the national and international level. Dr Dhawan as a researcher was instrumental in the establishment of the highly successful Micropropagation Technology Park at TERI. Her other major achievements includes developing e-contents for the post-graduate programme in biotechnology for the University Grants Commission. Her recent research interests are in the area of biofuels. She is currently the coordinator of the DBT-TERI Centre on Integrated Production of Advanced Biofuels and Biocommodities. She was Advisor, Bio-resources & Biotechnology, to the Late Tarun Gogoi, the former Chief Minister of Assam.
Mr. Sunil DuggalGroup Chief Executive Officer
Vedanta Limited
Mr. Sunil Duggal
Group Chief Executive Officer ,
Vedanta Limited
Mr. Sunil Duggal - Whole Time Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Sunil Duggal was appointed as the Interim CEO of Vedanta Limited effective April 6, 2020 and subsequently CEO effective August 1, 2020 and Whole- Time Director effective April 24, 2021. Prior to that he was the CEO & Whole-time Director of Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), a subsidiary of the Company from year 2015 and completed his tenure in July 2020. He had been associated with HZL since 2010 as Executive Director and thereafter became the Chief Operating Officer in the year 2012 and Dy. CEO in 2014. He is a result oriented professional with over 37+ years of experience of leading high-performance teams and more than 20+ years in leadership positions. He is known for his ability to calmly navigate through tough and challenging times, nurture and grow a business, evaluate opportunities and risks and successfully drive efficiency and productivity whilst reducing costs and inefficiencies and deliver innovative solutions to challenges. His thrust on adopting best-in-class mining and smelting techniques, state-of-the-art, environment-friendly technologies and mechanization, automation & digitalization of operational activities has added great value. He has an Electrical Engineering degree from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala. He is an Alumni of IMD, Lausanne - Switzerland and IIM, Kolkata. He is serving as Vice Chairman ? International Zinc Association and President ? Indian Lead Zinc Development Association. Recently, he has been appointed as the Chair ? Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on Mining
Ms. Bahar DuttAssociate Professor
Shiv Nadar University
Ms. Bahar Dutt
Associate Professor,
Shiv Nadar University
Bahar Dutt is trained as a conservation biologist- and has worked for the last twenty years in India and abroad on key environmental issues. She has worked as an Environment Editor with India?s leading English newschannel CNN-IBN and has won over 12 national and international awards for her reportage on green issues. Her reportage has helped move environment reportage from an obtuse segment on television to prime time news space. She worked for ten years with a community of snake charmers on a project initiated by her helping them find alternate livelihoods that were not in conflict with wildlife laws. She is the author of a recent book ?Green Wars- Dispatches from a Vanishing World by Harper Collins and ?Rewilding in India? for Oxford University Press
Ms. Patricia EspinosaExecutive Secretary
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Ms. Patricia Espinosa
Executive Secretary,
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Ms. Espinosa is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Ambassador of Mexico to Germany since 2012 and from 2001 to 2002, Ms. Espinosa was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico from 2006 to 2012, bringing over 30 years of experience at highest levels in international relations. As Chair of the Third Committee of the UNGA (1996), she played a key role in the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action. Ambassador of Mexico to Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia and the UN in Vienna (2002-2006), Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs-(1989-1991) and responsible for economic issues at the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva-(1982-1988)
Dr. Yasmine FouadMinister of Environment
Ministry of Environment, Arab Republic of Egypt
Dr. Yasmine Fouad
Minister of Environment,
Ministry of Environment, Arab Republic of Egypt
Dr. Yasmine Fouad was appointed Minister of Environment of the Arab Republic of Egypt on 18 June 2018. She was previously Assistant Minister of Environment since 2014. Dr. Fouad holds MSc in Environmental Science and PhD in Political Science - Euro Mediterranean Studies. She has more than 20 years? experience in Environment and International cooperation, working in Government, UN organizations, NGOs and Universities. Dr. Fouad?s work paved the way to the creation of environmental sensitive practices among current and future generations. She led designing, developing and launching several environmental initiatives that aim at raising awareness and ensuring youth involvement, such as the presidential initiative ?Live Green? for three years (2020-2023). Dr. Fouad has clear milestones at the international level. She has played a crucial role in advancing the biodiversity Agenda, and leading the development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, in her capacity as the President of the 14th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP14) since November 2018. To this connection, she has initiated the Egyptian Initiative, - adopted at the CBD-COP14 in November 2018 ? that aims at ensuring synergies among the three Rio Conventions (Climate Change, Biological Diversity and Desertification) - to ensure sufficient financial resources to tackle those related challenges. For Climate Change, she co-led the climate finance negotiation track during UNFCCC COP 24 (Katowice, Poland, December 2018), that resulted in developing the finance part of the Paris Agreement Work Programme successfully. At the Academic level, she has been selected as a lead author to chapter four of the IPCC Special Report on ?Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems? in 2017
Dr. Prodipto GhoshDistinguished Fellow
The Energy and Resources Institute
Dr. Prodipto Ghosh
Distinguished Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Prodipto Ghosh is involved in research and teaching at the interface of science, economics, philosophy, and public policy. Currently, he is Distinguished Fellow at TERI. He is concurrently member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Cabinet, Governing Council of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Member of Task Force on Inter-linking of Rivers, Indian Resource Panel, and Task Forces of other bodies including FICCI, etc. Earlier he was member of the PMs Council on Climate Change, Advisory Committee on G-20 matters of the Ministry of Finance, and member of the National Security Advisory Council. He is Adjunct Faculty at the Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh (where he lectures on Indian macroeconomic policy and public finance), TERI University (where he teaches a post-graduate courses on Normative Ethics, Microeconomics and Regulation, and Climate Change and Policy), and formerly Visiting Fellow at the Smith College, Oxford (with whom he is engaged in collaborative policy research). He is an external examiner for M.Phil. dissertations in the Department of Philosophy, Delhi University, and Ph.D dissertations in the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. He was a member of the IAS from 1969 to 2007, when he retired as Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests. He has also held the positions of Economic Advisor and Additional Secretary to the PM (during which he was Member-Secretary of the PMs Economic Advisory, and Trade and Industry Councils, as well as co-Executive Secretary of the Indo-US Economic Dialogue), Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and Senior Environment Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, Manila. He was a member of India?s negotiating team at the UNFCCC climate change negotiations from 2001 to 2012. He is the author of a number of peer reviewed research papers, and several newspaper articles. He has a Ph.D in Economics and Policy Analysis from the Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, and a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi, and has received Alumni Achievement Awards from both institutions. He is also the recipient of the BP Pal Centenary Memorial Award
Mr. Shantanu GotmareCommissioner & Secretary
Government of Assam
Mr. Shantanu Gotmare
Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Assam
Shantanu Gotmare is an IAS officer, with passion for green growth, energy, climate change and sustainability. A Masters in Public Policy from Princeton University with specialisation in energy policy, he is Currently posted as Commissioner & Secretary to Government of Assam. In Government of India, he has worked as Chief of Staff of Union Minister, for Power, coal, renewable energy and mines from 2014 to 2017, assisting in major policies such as scale-up of RE targets to 175 GW, LED?s UJALA scheme and Tariff Policy revisions to maximise RE in power mix. Thereafter, he was Country Representative, India for GGGI, an intergovernmental Organization focussed on Green Growth and Sustainability. During his tenure, GGGI India worked on optimising business solutions Green Growth areas such BioCNG, Solar along highways and PES mechanism in PPP model
Mr. Raphael GouletHead of Unit for Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea and Arctic Policy
European Commission
Mr. Raphael Goulet
Head of Unit for Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea and Arctic Policy,
European Commission
Rapha‰l Goulet is since 2020 Head of Unit for International Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea and Arctic policy in the Directorate General for maritime affairs and fisheries of the European Commission. Before that, he headed the unit for public interest services in the Directorate General for internal market. Between 1996 and 2016, he held various positions in the Directorate General for regional and urban policy: first in charge of regional development programmes (ERDF) in Germany, then pre-accession infrastructure projects (ISPA) in Latvia. He became Assistant to the Director General in 2002, and headed from 2007 different units for strategic planning and inter-institutional relations, for information, communication and international relations, and for Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany and the Netherlands. He graduated from the Institut dEtudes Politiques in Paris and from the Free University (political science and economics) in Berlin
Mr. Steven GuilbeaultMinister
Environment and Climate Change, Canada
Mr. Steven Guilbeault
Minister,
Environment and Climate Change, Canada
Hon. Steven Guilbeault was elected the Member of Parliament for Laurier?Sainte-Marie in 2019. He was appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage on November 20, 2019. Steven Guilbeault is a prominent advocate in the fight against the climate crisis, and has been leading the charge from Laurier?Sainte-Marie for years. In 1993, Steven Guilbeault co-founded quiterre, the largest environmental organization in Quebec. He also worked for Greenpeace, Cycle Capital Management, a Canadian fund dedicated to the development of clean technologies, Deloitte & Touche as well as Copticom, a consulting firm specializing in the green and social economy, and transportation. As an activist and strategic advisor for dozens of governments and businesses in Canada and abroad, Steven Guilbeault is a pragmatist who works to make a difference by building bridges and relationships. In his first year as Minister of Canadian Heritage, he supported the arts and culture sector, which was hard hit by the pandemic. He is also active in regulating the web giants, to ensure greater equity with creators and media organizations, and allow a safe online environment. An avid cyclist and sportsman, he has been riding his bike 12 months a year for the last 30 years. Steven Guilbeault is a father of four and stepfather of two
Dr. Pema GyamtshoDirector General
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Dr. Pema Gyamtsho
Director General,
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Dr. Gyamtsho brings to the position Cabinet-level leadership experience in environmental management in government and at ICIMOD. He served the Royal Government of Bhutan for over three decades in areas deeply relevant to ICIMOD working at the science-policy-practice interface in natural resources management and planning; rural development; agriculture; forestry; livestock and food production; rangeland management; livestock development; participatory approaches; research and extension institutional building; climate change and environmental protection; biodiversity conservation; and organic farming. In his previous role as Minister of Agriculture and Forests, he led over 4000 personnel working in agriculture, livestock, forestry and environment sectors. His significant roles range from the senior most level of decision making in Bhutan where he was involved and often led the enactment of over 60 pieces of legislation to the grassroots level where he has overseen the formation of over 400 farmers? groups and cooperatives. Between 2002 and 2006, he served at ICIMOD, initially leading efforts in policy and partnerships and then for our regional rangeland management work. Dr. Gyamtsho holds a PhD in Natural Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
Ms. Kate HamptonChief Executive Officer
The Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
Ms. Kate Hampton
Chief Executive Officer,
The Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
Kate became CEO of the Childrens Investment Fund Foundation in March 2016, having run CIFF?s Climate Change team since 2009. Current voluntary board and advisory roles include the European Climate Foundation, Observer Research Foundation (India), the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), the China Advisory Group on Global Climate Governance, the Open Political Economy Network (OPEN), We Protect Global Alliance, Friend of COP26, and Unilevers Sustainable Living Plan Advisory Council. Kates career spans roles in government, finance, consulting, a think tank and NGOs, including at Climate Change Capital, where she was Head of Policy. She has also advised policy makers in several roles, including as Senior Policy Advisor for the United Kingdoms G8 and EU presidencies in 2005. In 2008, Kate was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. She holds a BSc from the London School of Economics and a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School
Ms. Fiona HarveyEnvironment Correspondent
The Guardian, London
Ms. Fiona Harvey
Environment Correspondent ,
The Guardian, London
Fiona Harvey is the Guardians environment correspondent
Mr. Vidar HelgesenExecutive Director
The Nobel Foundation
Mr. Vidar Helgesen
Executive Director,
The Nobel Foundation
Vidar Helgesen is Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation since 2021, prior to which he was Norway's Special Representative for the Ocean 2018-20. He has served as Norway's Minister for Climate and Environment 2015-18, Minister of European Affairs 2013-15, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 2001-05. He was Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2006-13. An international lawyer by training, he lives in Stockholm and is married with two daughters
Mr. Rakesh KackerPresident
TERI Alumni Association
Mr. Rakesh Kacker
President ,
TERI Alumni Association
Rakesh Kacker ? Brief CV. January 2022 Last full time Assignment Director India Habitat Centre ? retired on 30th April 2018. Recent Part time Assignments ? Chairman, Committee for framing Uniform Standard Bidding Guidelines for RE Sector ( Ministry of New and Renewable Energy , GOI ( 2020-2021) ? Member ,Expert Committee for revision of SBDs and MBDs : 2015-2019(Ministry of Power, GOI) ? Member, High Powered Committee for revision of bidding documents for Coal Mines: 2017-2019 (Ministry of Coal , GOI) ? Independent Director , Board of ONGC Videsh (2017-2020) ? Independent Director, Board of PTC India (Power Trading Corporation of India)(2017-21) ? Independent Director , Board of PTC India Financial Services Limited (2019-22) Current Assignments ? Independent Director, Board of Planetcast Media Services limited (2019-) ? President TERI Alumni Association(2019- Delhi based NGO) ? Member Dispute Resolution Committee , MNRE, GOI (2020)
Ms. Emma KariMinister of the Environment and Climate Change
Ministry of the Environment, Finland
Ms. Emma Kari
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change,
Ministry of the Environment, Finland
Ms Emma Kari is the acting Minister of the Environment and Climate Change in the Finnish government. She is also a Member of the Finnish Parliament since 2005 for her second term and Member of the Helsinki City Council since 2009. She acted as the Chair of the Finnish Greens Parliament Group prior to her selection as the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. She has also worked as a Special Advisor in the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change in 2014 prior to her selection to the Finnish Parliament
Ms. Mercy KarundituDeputy Executive Director
The Green Belt Movement
Ms. Mercy Karunditu
Deputy Executive Director,
The Green Belt Movement
I am a graduate from Kenyatta University where I graduated with MSc in Agroforestry and Rural Development, Bachelor?s degree in Environmental Science and a certified manager from Kenya Institute of Management (KIM). Currently as DED, I provide visionary and strategic leadership to GBM programs in order to maximize the effectiveness and impact of GBM?s contribution to the communities? livelihoods and environmental conservation
Dr. Livleen KaurAssociate Director
TERI
Dr. Livleen Kaur
Associate Director,
TERI
Dr Livleen Kaur Kahlon is currently associated with the Environment Education and Awareness Division of the organisation as its Associate Director. She is actively involved in strategic execution of various models of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to achieve transformative impact amongst several sections of the society. Experienced in spearheading research, outreach and conservation education, Dr Kahlon?s core competency is in critical review and analysis of documents and reports related to environment education, youth empowerment and outreach, amidst popularization of scientific and environment topics. She has invested in communications related to EE (Environment Education) and conceptualized several stakeholders? dialogues related to GEC (Global Environmental Citizenship). Dr Livleen has completed over 100 projects in sustainability space and is a member of IUCN commissions (CEC & CEESP), International Expert Networks (ESD & RCE UNU), academic councils, and has been conferred with Institutional Roll of Honour and Study Scholarships. With a doctorate in Environment Management from GGSIPU, Delhi and Masters in Botany from Delhi University, Dr Livleen is also an Adjunct Faculty at TERI School of Advanced Studies
Dr. Shailly KediaSenior Fellow
The Energy and Resources Institute
Dr. Shailly Kedia
Senior Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Dr Shailly Kedia is a research professional who is a Senior Fellow and Associate Director with the Sustainable Development and Outreach Division at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi. At TERI, she has pioneered the concept of green budgeting and has majorly focused on sustainable development and climate change related policy research. Her research interests include sustainable development, climate action, business sustainability, green growth, international organization, and the interface between traditional and non-traditional security issues. In past, she has briefly worked with the Sustainable Development Network of the World Bank in Washington, DC; and with the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. She is a Board Member of World Sustainable Development Forum and has been Member of the Taskforce on Greening Rural Development of the Ministry of Rural Development, Member of the Indo-German Expert Group on Green and Inclusive Economy, and Co-chair of the Green Growth Knowledge Platform Research Committee on Inclusiveness. She is a Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Engineering
Mr. John KerryUnited States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
US State Department
Mr. John Kerry
United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate,
US State Department
On January 20th 2021, John F. Kerry was sworn in as our nation?s first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and the first-ever Principal to sit on the National Security Council entirely dedicated to climate change. President Biden announced Kerry would have a seat at every table around the world as he combats the climate crisis to meet the existential threat that we face. In recent years, Kerry was the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace?s first ever Visiting Distinguished Statesman, following his four years as the 68th United States Secretary of State. As America?s top diplomat, he guided the Department?s strategy on nuclear nonproliferation, combating radical extremism, and the threat of climate change. His tenure was marked by the successful negotiation of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Climate Agreement. From 1985 to 2013, he served as a U.S. Senator representing Massachusetts, and was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2009 to 2013. Secretary Kerry served in the U.S. Navy, completing two combat tours of duty in Vietnam for which he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from Boston College Law School. Secretary Kerry is the best-selling author of A Call to Service, This Moment on Earth with his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, and his 2018 memoir, Every Day Is Extra, which The New York Times described as ?a bittersweet reminder of what the country once demanded of its leaders.? Secretary Kerry was the Democratic Party?s nominee for President of the United States in 2004
Ms. Deepali KhannaManaging Director
The Rockefeller Foundation
Ms. Deepali Khanna
Managing Director,
The Rockefeller Foundation
Deepali Khanna is the Managing Director of the Asia Regional Office of the Rockefeller Foundation overseeing the Foundations policy, advocacy, grant-making, and strategic partnerships in Asia based out of Bangkok. Deepali comes with over three decades? experience in the development sector including with MasterCard Foundation, Plan International and UNICEF across Asia and Africa. Deepali leads initiatives to convene and catalyze strategic collaborations that advance development in Asia, as well as harness Asia?s role in enhancing the wellbeing of humanity around the world
Mr. Kamal KishoreMember Secretary
National Disaster Management Authority
Mr. Kamal Kishore
Member Secretary,
National Disaster Management Authority
Shri Kamal Kishore Member, National Disaster Management Authority Date of Birth: 21 October 1968 Kamal Kishore has worked on disaster risk reduction and recovery issues for over 22 years at the local, national, regional and global levels. Prior to joining the National Disaster Management Authority, he worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for nearly 13 years in New Delhi, Geneva and New York. At UNDP headquarters he led global advocacy campaigns to address disaster risk reduction concerns in the UN?s Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda. As programme advisor, he also led the development of disaster and climate risk management related elements of the UNDP Strategic Plan (2014-17). Previously,as UNDPs regional advisor for South and South-West Asia, he supported more than 10 countries on a range of public policy and institutional development issues, while also advising them on the use of appropriate risk reduction tools and methodologies. Kamal Kishore has supported post-disaster recovery through strategic advice, needs assessments, programme development, and coordination after major disasters in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Prior to UNDP, he served at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre as Director of Information and Research, and Manager of the Extreme Climate Events Programme covering Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. This was preceded by intensive field experience with The Action Research Unit for Development (TARU) in India where work on post-disaster reconstruction and resettlement after two major disasters ? the Uttarkashi and the Latur earthquakesin 1991 and 1993?allowed him to apply his professional skills as an architect. Kamal Kishore has a Bachelor?s degree in Architecture from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, and a Master?s degree in Urban Planning, Land and Housing Development from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok
Mr. Arun KrishnamurthyFounder
Environmentalist Foundation of India
Mr. Arun Krishnamurthy
Founder,
Environmentalist Foundation of India
Arun Krishnamurthy is an Indian environmental activist who has initiated the campaign of cleaning various lakes across India. He is known for founding the Environmentalist Foundation of India 2011 based in Chennai which has its branches in 15 states and other cities such as Hyderabad, Delhi and Coimbatore. Arun Krishnamurthy was chosen to receive the prestigious Rolex Awards for enterprise. Arun was awarded in the year 2012 at Geneva. He was the youngest to win the award. The award was in recognition of Aruns work towards lake restoration in India Arun worked at Google but later quit to start his own company. Arun has stated that environment and wildlife has always attracted him, but the degradation of the urban greenery had motivated him to protect it. Krishnamurthy had founded an internationally recognized organization, EFI which was founded in 2007. Their main projects include lake restoration, beach clean ups, urban afforestation
Ms. Rachel KyteDean
The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Ms. Rachel Kyte
Dean,
The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Rachel Kyte is the 14th dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Prior to joining Fletcher, Kyte served as special representative of the UN secretary-general and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). She previously was the World Bank Group vice president and special envoy for climate change, and served also as vice president at the International Finance Corporation responsible for ESG risk and business advisory services. Kyte is a member of the U.N. secretary-general?s high-level advisory group on climate action and an advisor to the UK presidency of the UN climate talks. Kyte is co-chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), and chair of the FONERWA, the Rwanda Green Fund. She serves on the boards of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), the Climate Policy Institute and CDP. She advises investors, governments, and not-for-profits on climate, energy, and finance for sustainable development
Ms. Steffi LemkeFederal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Germany
Ms. Steffi Lemke
Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection,
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Germany
Steffi Lemke is Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. She was born in Dessau on the Elbe and grew up there. She began studying agricultural sciences in Berlin in 1988. In 1989, Steffi Lemke helped found the party die GRšNE (the Green party) of the GDR. From 1994 to 2002, she served as a member of the Bundestag for BšNDNIS 90/DIE GRšNEN (the Greens). During the last four years of this period, Lemke was Parliamentary Secretary. In 2002, her party elected Steffi Lemke to the office of federal party manager, which she held until 2013. Since the federal elections of 2013, she has been a member of the Bundestag. Up until 2021, Lemke was Parliamentary Secretary and Nature Conservation Spokesperson of the Greens parliamentary group. In December 2021, Steffi Lemke was appointed Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection
Mr. Emmanuel Lenain Ambassador of France
French Government
Mr. Emmanuel Lenain
Ambassador of France,
French Government
Born on 27th March, 1970, Mr Emmanuel Lenain graduated from Sciences Po (IEP) in Paris and ESSEC Business School. He is also an alumnus of the Ecole Nationale d?Administration (ENA). Mr Lenain began his diplomatic career in 1997, serving in the French Foreign Ministry?s United Nations Department, where he took part in peace negotiations on Kosovo. In 2000, he was appointed First Secretary to France?s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, to follow cases related to the Security Council and the Sanctions Committees. In 2003, he was assigned at the Embassy of France in Beijing as a Political Counsellor. In this capacity, he tracked China?s foreign policy and supervised negotiations on issues such as the European arms embargo and textile quotas. Mr Lenain returned to Paris in June 2005 to serve as the Prime Minister?s technical advisor on multilateral affairs until July 2007, when he came to Washington, D.C., to head the French Embassy?s Press and Communication Department. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Consul General of France in Shanghai. Thereafter, he became Director for the Asia-Pacific Division of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in 2015, a post he held until his appointment as Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister in 2017. In addition to his diplomatic activities, Mr Lenain has lectured on International Relations at Sciences Po and served as an expert on the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict. Apart from French, he is also fluent in the English, Mandarin and German languages
Ms. Anuradha MathurAssociate Fellow
The Energy and Resources Institute
Ms. Anuradha Mathur
Associate Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Anuradha has been working with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for over two years. She is part of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) secretariat. While at TERI, she has successfully conducted numerous Summits that respond to the urgent demands of the SDGs. Along with her TERI colleagues, she co-authored the COP26 Charter of Actions, a knowledge document prepared by TERI, which proposes probable and sector specific options to advance climate action and ambition in India
Dr. Ajay MathurDirector General
International Solar Alliance
Dr. Ajay Mathur
Director General,
International Solar Alliance
Dr Ajay Mathur is the Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). At ISA, his focus is on enhancing solarization of the world, and convincing leaders of the world that solar is the energy supply choice of preference. Towards this end, ISA provides, advocacy; analysis of policy; financial capacity strengthening; and solar project preparation in LDCs and SIDs. 100 countries are today members of the ISA. ISA is the only international organization headquartered in India, and was created by PM Modi of India and President Fran‡ois Hollande of France at the Paris Climate Negotiations in 2015. Dr Mathur was earlier in the Bureau of Energy and The Energy and Resources Institute as its Director General
Ms. Katie McGintyChief Sustainability and External Relations Officer
Johnson Controls
Ms. Katie McGinty
Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer,
Johnson Controls
Kathleen ?Katie? McGinty is Vice President and Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer for Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings technology. In this capacity, Katie serves on the Executive Committee of the company and helps drive JCI?s top tier sustainability performance including recognition as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations, the CDP Leader Band, EcoVadis Gold, and MSCI AAA rating. Katie and her team also work toward government policies to tackle climate change, encouraging smart buildings and energy efficiency. Katie has over 25 years of public and private sector experience, and she is a recognized innovator in clean energy and environmental protection. Katie champions technology development, sustainability, and creative policies to solve tough environmental problems. Her public sector career includes serving as Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and as Deputy Assistant to the President (1993-1998), as Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection (2003-2008), and as Chair of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (2004-2008)
Dr. Mac McQuown Partner, Co-Founder, and Director
Diversified Credit Investments
Dr. Mac McQuown
Partner, Co-Founder, and Director,
Diversified Credit Investments
Dr. Mac McQuown is a financial services entrepreneur, environmentalist, amateur astronomer, and a producer of fine wine. He is also a Partner, Co-Founder, and Director at DCI, LLC. Previously, Mac was a Co-Founder and Chairman of Moody?s KMV Company, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Diversified Corporate Loans, and Co-Founder and Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors. He is a firm believer in action by individuals to harness renewable energy resources and protect the environment, a philosophy that he follows in his own innovative actions
Dr. Mar¡a MendiluceChief Executive Officer
We Mean Business Coalition
Dr. Mar¡a Mendiluce
Chief Executive Officer,
We Mean Business Coalition
Mar¡a Mendiluce is the CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition and has 25 years of experience in sustainable development, energy and climate action. The Coalition brings together seven leading international organizations: BSR, The B Team, CDP, Ceres, CLG Europe, Climate Group and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Together, they catalyzes business leadership and policy ambition to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy. As chief executive, Mar¡a is leading on flagship net-zero initiatives encompassing companies of all sizes and several sectors. She sits on the Executive Board of The Science Based Targets initiative that has over 2,000 companies engaged. She actively took part in the founding and is a member of the Board of the Mission Possible Partnership that works to develop decarbonization roadmaps for seven hard-to-abate sectors including cement and steel. Mar¡a co-founded the SME Climate Hub that is building a one-stop-shop for smaller companies for their net-zero commitments
Mr. Himanshu Shekhar MishraSenior Editor (Political & Current Affairs)
New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV India)
Mr. Himanshu Shekhar Mishra
Senior Editor (Political & Current Affairs),
New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV India)
Himanshu Shekhar Mishra works as Senior Editor (Political & Current Affairs) in New Delhi Television (NDTV). He was part of Prime Ministers official entourage to United Nations? Annual Session in New York (September, 2003) and Indo-Turkish Summit held in Ankara and Istanbul (2003) respectively. He has covered Prime Minister?s official visits to Pakistan (January, 2004) and Afghanistan (August, 2005) as a TV news journalist. He has also reported and researched on climate-related disasters, legal rights of disaster victims, threats posed by climate change to sustainable development and disaster journalism. His paper on unprecedented floods in Jammu and Kashmir in September, 2014 was selected for presentation at the 3rd United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in March, 2015. Till date, he has five published research papers in international volumes on Disaster Management. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree from the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He did his post-graduation in Political Science from JNU-1995-97
Mr. Narendra ModiPrime Minister
INDIA
Mr. Narendra Modi
Prime Minister,
INDIA
Shri Narendra Modi is a dynamic, determined, and dedicated Prime Minister of India. On 30 May 2019, he was sworn in as Indias Prime Minister marking the start of his second term in office. He is also the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat - October 2001 to May 2014
Ms. Amina J. MohammedDeputy Secretary General
United Nations
Ms. Amina J. Mohammed
Deputy Secretary General,
United Nations
Amina Jane Mohammed is a British-Nigerian diplomat and politician who is serving as the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, she was Nigerian Minister of Environment from 2015 to 2016 and was a key player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process
Ms. Vanessa Nakate Climate Justice Activist and Author of A Bigger Picture
Rise up movement
Ms. Vanessa Nakate
Climate Justice Activist and Author of A Bigger Picture ,
Rise up movement
Vanessa Nakate is a climate justice activist from Uganda and the Author of -A Bigger Picture
Ms. Leena NandanSecretary to Government of India
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ms. Leena Nandan
Secretary to Government of India,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Mrs Leena Nandan is an IAS officer of 1987 Batch, UP Cadre. She has served in various capacities in the State and Central Government as District Magistrate in 4 districts, Managing Director, UP Tourism Corporation, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism etc. She was posted in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as Joint Secretary in 2016 and continued there as Additional Secretary and then Special Secretary upto 2020. Mrs. Nandan assumed charge as Secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs on 1st May 2020, before taking over as Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 1st January 2022. Mrs. Nandan is a graduate in English (Hons.) from Patna Women?s College, Patna University and has done her Master?s in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila. She has written two books; the first one titled ?How to Placate an Angry Naga: Finding One?s Feet in the I.A.S? was co-authored with her husband Shri Jiwesh Nandan and published in 2007 by Penguin, India. The second book written by her, ?Ten Days?, is a work of fiction which was published by Wisdom Tree Publishers in 2014
Ms. Jayashree NandiAssistant Editor
Hindustan Times
Ms. Jayashree Nandi
Assistant Editor,
Hindustan Times
Jayashree Nandi is an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She primarily covers climate science and negotiations; environmental issues in India such as air and water pollution; forests and wildlife government policies on the environment and their impact. With over 13 years of experience in writing on environment, she has worked with The Times of India in the past before joining Hindustan Times about two years ago. Jayashree won the Centre for Media Studies Young Environment Journalist of the Year award in 2019. She also won the merit award for sustained environmental reporting on environment at fourth Asian Environmental Journalism Awards (AEJA) in 2015. She has taken up a number of journalism fellowships including Biodiversity Media Initiative fellowship of the Earth Journalism Network. Jayashree has authored a picture eBook for 4- to 6-year-olds on this years Uttarakhand flood disaster titled "Saving Raini
Ms. Khadeeja NaseemMinister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
Ministry of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology
Ms. Khadeeja Naseem
Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives,
Ministry of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology
Ms. Khadeeja Naseem is currently the Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology in the Maldives. As State Minister, Ms. Naseem oversees the policies and work related to Climate Change and Energy. Prior to her appointment as State Minister, Ms. Naseem had worked on various developmental projects in the Maldives funded by the World Bank and the UNDP. She also has extensive experience in Climate Finance, and Disaster risk management. Ms. Naseem holds an undergraduate degree in Human Ecology from college of the Atlantic, USA and a Masters of Environment in Climate policy from the University of Melbourne, Australia
Dr. Bruno OberleDirector General
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Dr. Bruno Oberle
Director General,
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Dr Bruno Oberle assumed office as Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in July 2020. He brings over 40 years of experience to IUCN at a time when redefining humanity?s relationship with nature is more urgent than ever. Before joining IUCN, Dr. Oberle served in some of Switzerland?s most prestigious positions related to the environment. Between 2005 and 2015, as State Secretary for the Environment and Director of the Federal Office for the Environment for Switzerland, he represented Switzerland in leading international institutions and international negotiations, playing a key role in the Global Environment Facility and in the establishment of the Green Climate Fund
Ms. Sanda OjiamboCEO and Executive Director
United Nations Global Compact
Ms. Sanda Ojiambo
CEO and Executive Director,
United Nations Global Compact
Sanda Ojiambo of Kenya was appointed CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact in June 2020. As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Ojiambo launched an ambitious new UN Global Compact strategy to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. During her tenure, she has also promoted stronger business engagement with UN partners to deliver and finance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ms. Ojiambo brings to the UN Global Compact more than 20 years? experience in the public, multilateral and private sectors. Throughout her career, she has cultivated and managed relationships with key business entities and civil society organizations and led the implementation of several public-private partnership initiatives
Dr. Saroj PachauriDirector
POP Movement
Dr. Saroj Pachauri
Director,
POP Movement
Saroj Pachauri, MD, PhD, DPH As a public health physician, Dr. Pachauri has been extensively engaged with research on family planning, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS, and poverty, gender and youth. In 1995, she joined as Regional Director, South and East Asia, Population Council and established its regional office in New Delhi which she managed until 2014. In 2011, she was awarded the prestigious title of Distinguished Scholar, an honor rarely bestowed. She worked with the Ford Foundation?s New Delhi Office (1983-1994) and supported child survival, women?s health, sexual and reproductive health, and HIV and AIDS programs. She worked with the International Fertility Research Program (IFRP) which was later renamed Family Health International (1971-1975) and the India Fertility Research Programme (1975-1983). She designed and monitored multi-centric clinical trials globally to assess the safety and effectiveness of fertility control technologies. During 1962-1971, as faculty of the Departments of Preventive and Social Medicine in New Delhi and Varanasi, she helped to develop this new discipline. She has published 6 books and contributed chapters to 20 books. She has over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and several articles in print media
Dr. Ash PachauriSenior Mentor
POP Movement
Dr. Ash Pachauri
Senior Mentor,
POP Movement
Dr. Ash Pachauri has a PhD in decision behavior and master?s degree in international management. Having worked with McKinsey & Company before pursuing a career in the social development arena, Dr. Pachauri?s experience in the field of public health emerges from a range of initiatives including those of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, the UN, and CDC program interventions in the US. He is also a technical adviser to the World Health Organization on Self-Care global guidelines. Dr. Pachauri has been engaged with the use of information technology for health, education, and geo-informatics. A master trainer in behavior change communications and strategic health leadership, Dr. Pachauri has led over 20,000 workshops, events, and activities globally to outreach to youth and communities to promote health and sustainable development
Dr. Shonali PachauriResearch Group Leader
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Dr. Shonali Pachauri
Research Group Leader,
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Dr. Shonali Pachauri is Research Group Leader of the Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS) Research Group in the Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Program at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. Her research explores policy pathways for achieving universal access to basic services and technologies and assesses the wider impacts of this for sustainable development. She served as Adjunct Professor at the Yale School of the Environment in Fall 2016. She is a Lead Author for the IPCC WGIII AR6 report, serves on the Science Advisory Panel of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and on the Advisory Group of the International Network on Gender & Energy (ENERGIA)
Ms. Ridhima PandeyStudent
Student
Ms. Ridhima Pandey
Student,
Student
About: I am a 14 years old (born in 21-October - 2007) . Studying in 10th standard of BMDAV Public School Haridwar, Uttarakhand India. I have a younger Brother. My father has been working for Wildlife conservation for the last 20 years and my mother is working in the Uttarakhand Forest Department. My hobbies are Forest safari, dancing , singing etc. My passion is to do work to save our Environment. Achievement: I filed a petition in March 2017 against the Government of India in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), asserting that the Indian government has failed to fulfill its duties to me and the Indian people to mitigate climate change. Now I filed an appeal against the decision of NGT in the Supreme Court of India. ? I attended an International conference organized by Notre affaire a tous in Paris as a speaker on 3rd November 2017. ? I joined Greta Thunberg on September 20 in her Global Climate Strike at Manhattan New York. ? I, along with fifteen other teenagers, have filed a complaint against five countries (Argentina, Turkey, Germany, France and Brazil) in the UN for not doing enough to stop Climate Change. ? I have also participated in International events as a speaker, XYNTEO in Norway, Global pneumonia forum in Barcelona Spain. ? I am also a TEDx Speaker ? tedx Chandigarh , tedx GMERSVadnagar , tedx kanke . I also attended so many events in various parts of India. ? Presently I am spreading awareness in different cities and schools of India to inspire others to protect our Environment. ? I wrote an open letter to our Prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi on first clean air for blue skies day 7th September addressing the problem of air pollution, my fears and concerns about the problem and requested him to take strict action. ? Ambassador at Earth Day network program my future my voice. ? Youth ambassador at tve and difficult dialoguess global sustainability film awards. ? Youth advocate at INDIA MUN . ? National Ambassador at AIESEC Dehraduns ignite carnival. ? Ambassador of Mock Cop 26. ? Working with Heirs of Heirs to our Oceans organization. ? I have worked with UNICEF and Unicef India. ? I am the youth ambassador of My future My voice campaign by Earthday network. ? I have got listed in BBCs top 100 most empowering womens list 2020 . ? Recipient of Sanctuary Asias young naturalist award 2020 . ? Recipient of Mother Teresa Memorial Award of 2021 for social justice
Ms. Barbara PompiliMinister for the Ecological Transition
French Government
Ms. Barbara Pompili
Minister for the Ecological Transition,
French Government
Ms Barbara Pompili is graduated from Lille Institute of Political Studies (Institut d?Etudes Politiques de Lille, IEP Lille). She successively held the position of communication officer at the National Secretariat of the Ecological party ® les Verts ¯ (2000-01), press counsellor for Mr. No‰l MamŠre presidential campaign (2002), parliamentary assistant to Mr. Yves Cochet, Member of Parliament for Paris (2002-07), and Deputy Secretary General of the Democratic and Republican Left group in the National Assembly (2008-12). She was elected as a Member of Parliament of the Somme d‚partement (2012-16), where she was Co-chair of the Ecologist group at the National Assembly (2012-16) and Secretary of the Cultural Affairs and Education Committee of the National Assembly (2014-16). Ms Barbara Pompili was appointed Minister of State for Biodiversity in 2016. She was reelected in 2017 as Member of Parliament of the Somme d‚partement (2017-2020) and became President of the National Assemblys Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Commission (2017-20). Ms Barbara Pompili was appointed Minister for the Ecological Transition in 2020
Mr. Janez PotocnikPartner, Co-Chair
Systemiq, UNEP IRP
Mr. Janez Potocnik
Partner, Co-Chair,
Systemiq, UNEP IRP
Dr. Janez Potocnik (1958) graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana (Ph.D. in 1993). After holding several positions in the Slovenian Ministries, he joined the European Commission, in 2004, as Shadow Commissioner for Enlargement. He was then Commissioner responsible for Science and Research and Commissioner for Environment. In November 2014, he was appointed member and Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel which is hosted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In the same month, he was also appointed as a Chairman of The Forum for the Future of Agriculture and RISE Foundation and as a Member of the European Policy Centre?s Advisory Council. He is partner in SYSTEMIQ and from 2019 also President of ThinkForest
Mr. Manjeev Singh PuriDistinguished Fellow
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr. Manjeev Singh Puri
Distinguished Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr Manjeev Singh Puri is Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change. Manjeev Singh Puri joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1982 and has served as Ambassador of India to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg, Nepal and as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN. In addition, he has served twice in Germany (in Bonn and Berlin), in Cape Town, Muscat, Bangkok and Caracas. From 2005 to 2009, he headed the UN-Economic & Social Affairs- Division in the Ministry of External Affairs of India and led the Indian delegation for the first meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Brussels in July 2007 and the presentation of various reports by India at the Human Rights Council. During 2011-2012, when India served on the Security Council, he was a senior member of its delegation. Major areas of his experience and professional focus relate to the environment, in particular climate change and sustainable development. He was a lead negotiator for India at the UN on issues relating to the post 2015 development agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012. He was a key member of India's delegation at various Climate Change negotiations, including the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen in December 2009 and before that at Montreal, Bali, Bonn and Poznan. Furthermore, he was closely involved with India's participation in the G8-G5 Summits from 2005 and he was the points-person on the Indian side at the Major Economies Forum. Puri has a Masters degree in Management and did his BA (Honours) in Economics from St. Stephen?s College, Delhi.
Dr. Palanivel Thiaga RajanHonorable Minister of Finance & Human Resources Management
Government of Tamil Nadu
Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan
Honorable Minister of Finance & Human Resources Management ,
Government of Tamil Nadu
Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan is the MLA for Madurai Central Constituency in the 15th & 16th Legislative Assemblies of Tamil Nadu. He currently serves as the Minister for Finance & Human Resources Management in the Tamil Nadu Government. Dr. Rajan previously worked as an International Investment Banker for many years, in several trading, market sales, and management roles at Lehman Brothers (largely in New York), and Standard Chartered Bank (mostly based in Singapore) ? where he last served as Senior Managing Director, Financial Markets, overseeing the sales of several fixed-income products globally. Prior to banking, his career spanned Academia, Agriculture, Consulting, Manufacturing, and Research. r. Rajan represents the 4th generation of his family?s engagement in the Dravidian Movement, and he is a 3rd generation elected representative, following in the footsteps of his Grandfather Tamizhavel Sir P. T. Rajan (former Minister & Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency under Diarchy), and his father P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan (former Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and Minister of the Government of Tamil Nadu). His political and policy views are significantly shaped by his observation of both the diversity of cultures around the world and the universality of human values.He is frequently invited to speak on wide ranging topics such as Science, Economics, Philosophy & Politics addressing diverse gatherings ranging from Students & Professionals to Trade associations, Industry Leaders & Global Investors. Because of his global career and deep curiosity, Dr. Rajan has travelled to about 60 countries across the major continents. His political and policy views are significantly shaped by his observation of both the diversity of cultures around the world, and the universality of human values. Dr. Rajan earned a B. Tech (Hons.) in Chemical Engineering from NIT, Trichy, MS (Operations Research) and Ph. D. (Human Factors Engineering / Engineering Psychology) from the State University of New York, and an MBA (Finance) from the MIT Sloan School of Management
Mr. Rajani Ranjan RashmiDistinguished Fellow & Programme Director
TERI
Mr. Rajani Ranjan Rashmi
Distinguished Fellow & Programme Director,
TERI
Shri Rajani Ranjan Rashmi is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service of 1983 batch. He was Indias key negotiator for climate change issues under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change for several years and was associated with climate policy making in the run-up to and after the Paris Agreement. He served as Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in the Government of India and later as Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur. Currently, he is Distinguished Fellow in The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) where he works on areas relating to climate change, mitigation and adaptation strategies, carbon markets, and sustainable development. He is a Member of the Technical Advisory Body of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). In 2018-19, he served on the Sub Committee of the Ministry of Finance on Climate Finance
Ms. Teresa RiberaDeputy Prime Minister for the Ecological Transition
Government of Spain
Ms. Teresa Ribera
Deputy Prime Minister for the Ecological Transition,
Government of Spain
Teresa Ribera is Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge Prior to that, Ms Ribera was Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) from 2014 to 2018, and enabled the Institute to play a key role in the negotiation of the Paris Climate Agreement and the transition towards sustainable development. She served as the Spanish Secretary of State for Climate Change and Biodiversity from 2008 to 2011, responsible for environmental and climate policies, as well as the National Meteorological Agency. A public official from the Senior Corps of State Civil Administrators, she has also taught at the Autonomous University of Madrid
Mr. John RoomeRegional Director, South Asia Sustainable Development
World Bank
Mr. John Roome
Regional Director, South Asia Sustainable Development,
World Bank
John Roome is Regional Director, South Asia Sustainable Development at World Bank. Before he was Senior Director for Climate Change. He joined the World Bank in 1989, working initially in Africa, and has since held various positions including Operations and Strategy Director for Global Practices and Cross Cutting Solutions, Director for Sustainable Development East Asia and Pacific Region, Operations and Strategy Director in the Bank?s South Asia region and as Operational Quality Director in the Bank?s Africa region. His experience spans water, urban, transport, energy, rural, agriculture, environment, and social sectors, as well as disaster risk management and climate change. Before joining the World Bank, John worked in Europe for Monitor Company, a leading corporate strategy consulting firm, and Old Mutual, South African Life Assurance Company. He obtained master?s Degrees in Econometrics & Management at Oxford University, bachelor?s degree in economics, Statistics and Actuarial Science at University of Cape Town
Prof. - SadhguruFounder, Isha Foundation
Isha Foundation
Prof. - Sadhguru
Founder, Isha Foundation,
Isha Foundation
Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a Yogi, mystic and visionary. He has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India?s highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service. Sadhguru is a speaker and opinion-maker of international renown. He has spoken at various forums across the world, including the UN World Headquarters, UNESCO Headquarters, World Economic Forum, the World Bank, the House of Lords, TED, Microsoft and Google Headquarters. He has also been invited to speak at leading educational institutions: Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Wharton and MIT among others. Over the years, Sadhguru has launched mega ecological initiatives. The movements Rally for Rivers and Cauvery Calling address the urgent need to revitalize Indian Rivers and issues related to Soil, Water and Climate Change. Recognized globally for their wide reach and impact, these initiatives have become game-changers by establishing a global blueprint for economic development that is ecologically sustainable. Sadhguru has been invited by the UN, UNE (United Nations Environment) and UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) to discuss global solutions to the world?s ecological issues. Sadhguru?s celebratory engagement with life includes an active involvement in fields as diverse as architecture, visual design, poetry, painting, sports, music, aviation and motorcycling. Three decades ago, Sadhguru founded Isha Foundation, a non-profit human-service organization, with human wellbeing as its core commitment. The Foundation has initiated powerful yoga programs for human transformation and wellbeing, and path-breaking outreach projects to uplift rural communities. Isha is supported by over 11 million volunteers in more than 300 centers worldwide
Mr. James K SangmaCabinet Minister for Forests & Environment, Health & Family Welfare, Information & Public Relations
Government of Meghalaya
Mr. James K Sangma
Cabinet Minister for Forests & Environment, Health & Family Welfare, Information & Public Relations,
Government of Meghalaya
A champion of environmental governance, James K Sangma is a legislator belonging to the hill state of Meghalaya. He is currently serving as Minister to various Departments including Forests & Environment, and Health & Family Welfare. His critical thinking skills and an impact-based problem solving approach grew under the political aegis of his father Shri PA Sangma, an eminent personality of Indian politics who is known for his exemplary public service. Taking after his father, a core ideal of governance that remains central to James Sangma is the social inclusion of the ?disenfranchised and marginalised? in the mainstream socio-political fabric of the country
Mr. Abdulla ShahidPresident of the UN General Assembly
United Nations
Mr. Abdulla Shahid
President of the UN General Assembly,
United Nations
Abdulla Shahid is a veteran diplomat and politician, with over 35 years of experience in the Executive and Legislative branches of the Maldives. He is currently serving as Foreign Minister a second time, having held the portfolio previously in 2007. As Foreign Minister in 2008, he introduced the Human Rights Council Resolution 7/23 on ?Human Rights and Climate Change?, championing a rights-based approach to climate change. He ensured gender parity among Heads of Maldives? diplomatic missions for the first time in 2020. Minister Shahid also holds the distinction of being the first democratically elected Speaker of The People?s Majlis parliament
Ms. Priya ShankarIndia Director, Climate and Environment Program
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Ms. Priya Shankar
India Director, Climate and Environment Program,
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Ms.Priya Shankar is India Director for Climate and Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies
Mr. Ajay ShankarDistinguished Fellow
The Energy and Resources Institute
Mr. Ajay Shankar
Distinguished Fellow,
The Energy and Resources Institute
Ajay Shankar is a Distinguished Fellow at TERI. He has been active in public service for over 45 years. He was a member of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and retired as Secretary, DIPP (Department of Industrial, Policy and Promotion) in the Government of India. He was Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary and Special Secretary in the Ministry of Power. ? He played a key role in the enactment of the Electricity Act, 2003. This was the major reform legislation for the Power Sector. ? He played a crucial role in the conceptualization and the launch of the national program for completing Rural Electrification which was launched in 2005. ? He was also instrumental in promoting private sector participation in the Power Sector including the Ultra Mega Power Projects of 4,000 megawatts each. ? He was closely associated with the design of the National Solar Mission
Mr. Alok SharmaPresident
COP 26
Mr. Alok Sharma
President,
COP 26
Mr Alok Sharma was appointed full-time President for COP 26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, on 8 January 2021. He was previously Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and President for COP 26 between 13 February 2020 and 8 January 2021. He was previously Secretary of State for International Development from 24 July 2019 to 13 February 2020, and Minister of State for Employment at the Department of Work and Pensions from 9 January 2018 until 24 July 2019. He was Minister of State for Housing and Planning, for the Department for Communities and Local Government from 13 June 2017 to 9 January 2018
Ms. Aminath ShaunaMinister
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
Ms. Aminath Shauna
Minister,
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
H.E. Aminath Shauna was sworn in as the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology on May 5, 2021. Her portfolio includes, protecting the natural environment, action and advocacy on climate change, science and technology development, and the implementation of policies on energy, telecommunications, water, and waste management. She also provides policy direction to the Ministry?s affiliated agencies, namely, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Biosphere Reserve Office. Prior to her appointment Shauna served as the Policy Secretary to H.E President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Previously, Shauna served as Under Secretary at the Policy Office of the President?s Office from 2008-2012, where she was responsible for the coordination of all government policy matters, including climate change. She oversaw the secretariat of the Climate Change Advisory Council, the expert body providing climate change policy advice to the President
Mr. Sameh ShoukryMinister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and COP27 President-Designate
Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Sameh Shoukry
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and COP27 President-Designate,
Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and President-Designate of COP 27
Mr. Dipak SinghPrincipal Secretary, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, Government of Bihar
Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, Government of Bihar
Mr. Dipak Singh
Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, Government of Bihar,
Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, Government of Bihar
Dipak Kumar Singh, an IAS officer of 1992 batch of Bihar cadre, held following important postings: 1. Principal secretary, Labour Resources Department cum CEO Bihar Skill Development Mission from Jan 2016 to 8th Aug 2019. 2. He has been Secretary, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change from Nov 2011 to June 2014 , and again Principal secretary of the department from 11th March 2019 to till date. 3. He has been Secretary Water resources department from June 2014 to Nov 2015; Secretary Bihar state electricity Board from May 2001 to june 2004. 5. In field postings, he held the charge of District Magistrates of Khagaria, Madhubani and Purnea. 6. He was director in Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of finance, Govt of India from October 2005 to Feb 2010. 7. He worked in the World Bank, Washington DC under the voice secondment programme from January to June 2008. He is MA in political science from Allahabad University and M.Phil in International Politics from School of International Studies, JNU. Alongwith his profession, he is pursuing Ph.D. from BHU. He was born in West Bengal and did his schooling from West Bengal. He is leading the state of Bihar in devising a low carbon development pathway for the state, in collaboration with UNEP
Mr. Mahendra SinghiManaging Director & CEO
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd.
Mr. Mahendra Singhi
Managing Director & CEO,
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd.
Mr. Mahendra Singhi is an affable and cheerful person. He is designated as Carbon Pricing Champion by the World Bank Group, COP 26 Business Leader by UN COP 26 Presidency and also recognised as one of the five global Climate Defenders by the BBC World. Mr. Singhi is Managing Director and CEO of Dalmia Cement, a prominent cement manufacturing group in India ranked no.1 globally by CDP on Low Carbon Economy Transition and appreciated by the UN Secretary-General on climate innovation. Dalmia Cement has committed to become a carbon-negative cement group by 2040. It follows the business philosophy of Clean and Green is profitable and sustainable while having one of the lowest carbon footprints in global cement sector. Dalmia Cement is one of Indias most promising fourth-largest cement companies, with over 33 Million Tonnes of installed cement capacity. Mr. Singhi also serves the following organizations and commissions in India and abroad: 1. Carbon Pricing Champion, CPLC, World Bank Group 2. COP 26 Business Leader, United Nations COP-26 Presidency 3. Commissioner, Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), London, U.K., 4. Director, Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), London. The U.K. 5. Chair, Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), India, 6. Member, Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, World Economic Forum, 7. Co-Chair, TERI Council for Business Sustainability (TERI-CBS), India 8. Member, Climate Change Council in Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India 9. Immediate past President of Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) India, 10. Immediate past Chairman - National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM) India, 11. Member of the Governing Council, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) In the past, Mr. Singhi headed Shree Cement Ltd. For 20 years. During his tenure, Shree Cement was adjudged as New Sustainability Champion by World Economic Forum in 2012. Mr. Singhi has represented the business and cement sector globally in the most recognized, multi-country platforms such as the UN Climate Ambition Summit 12th Dec. 2020, Climate Action Summit of UN General Assembly; Paris Climate Agreement Ceremony; Global Climate Action in COP-24; High-Level Govt.-Business dialogues of French Presidency and TED CountDown Summit and High-Level discussions in COP-26. Mr. Singhi has 43 years of experience in the cement sector and inculcates happiness for a productive, flexible and resilient workplace. Mr. Singhi is Science & Law Graduate & Chartered Accountant-21st Rank
Mr. Sumant SinhaChairman and CEO
ReNew Power Pvt Ltd
Mr. Sumant Sinha
Chairman and CEO,
ReNew Power Pvt Ltd
Sumant Sinha is the Chairman and CEO of ReNew Power ? one of India?s leading clean energy companies, which is listed on NASDAQ, with an aggregate portfolio of ~10 GW spread across 110+ sites. Sumant is Co-Chair of the Electricity Governor?s Group and member of the Stewardship Board on Shaping the Future of Energy and Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, at the World Economic Forum. He serves on the Board of Directors of the US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). He is a member of the Board of Trustees, for The Climate Change Organization and chairs the India Advisory Group, The Climate Group. Sumant has also been instrumental in ReNew joining as a founding member of the First Movers Coalition (a public-private partnership between the US State Department, through Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and the World Economic Forum) and has won numerous prestigious awards from leading platforms
Mr. Alexander SlaterDeputy Managing Director, U.S.-India Business Council
Deputy Managing Director, U.S.-India Business Council
Mr. Alexander Slater
Deputy Managing Director, U.S.-India Business Council,
Deputy Managing Director, U.S.-India Business Council
Alexander Slater works to strengthen the trusted partnership between India and the United States by growing the countries? trade and investment ties. As Deputy Managing Director of the U.S.-India Business Council he helps lead the organization and shape its policy agenda, with a focus on financial services and the digital economy. He leverages experience in global development, finance, law and strategic affairs to accomplish USIBC?s goals. He has served as an advisor to the President of the World Bank and a Senior Financial Officer in the World Bank Treasury. As a lawyer, he counselled Fortune 100 companies on white collar matters and foreign investment, and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He served as a foreign policy advisor to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, the current Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate. He holds degrees in history, law and international relations from Yale, Harvard and Oxford
Prof. Youba SokonaVice-Chair
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Prof. Youba Sokona
Vice-Chair ,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Prof SOKONA, with over 40 years of experience addressing energy, environment and sustainable development in Africa, has been at the heart of numerous national and continental initiatives. He is currently a Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change after serving as Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III following being a Lead Author since 1990. He has a proven track record of organisational leadership and management, for example as Inaugural Coordinator of the African Climate Policy Centre and as Executive Secretary of the Sahara and the Sahel Observatory. He is affiliated with numerous boards and organisations, including, as Honorary Professor at the University College London, Member of The World Academy of Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences, Science Advisory Committee of the International Institute for Applied System Analysis. In short, Prof SOKONA is a global figure, with deep technical knowledge, extensive policy experience and an unreserved personal commitment to African led development
Mr. Erik SolheimGreen Politician, Advisor and inspirational speaker on green business, peace and development
Morrow Batteries, Aker Horizons, Green Hydrogen Organisation - GH2, Chairman of Advisory Board
Mr. Erik Solheim
Green Politician, Advisor and inspirational speaker on green business, peace and development,
Morrow Batteries, Aker Horizons, Green Hydrogen Organisation - GH2, Chairman of Advisory Board
Erik Solheim was the Sixth UN Environment Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. From 2007 to 2012, Mr. Solheim held the combined portfolio of Norway?s Minister of the Environment and International Development, and from 2005 to 2007 served as Minister of International Development. In addition to his role in Government and International development, Mr. Eric Solheim has also received a number of awards for his work on climate and the environment, including UN Environment?s Champions of the Earth award, TIME Magazine?s Hero of the Environment, and an honorary doctorate from TERI University in Delhi, India. He is known for his sustainability initiatives and is a veteran in Disaster and Conflict Management
Prof. Will SteffenEmeritus Professor
Australian National University
Prof. Will Steffen
Emeritus Professor,
Australian National University
Will Steffen is an Earth System scientist. He is a Councillor on the publicly-funded Climate Council of Australia that delivers independent expert information about climate change. He is also an Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University (ANU); Canberra, a Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Sweden; and a member of the Anthropocene Working Group. From 1998 to mid-2004, Steffen was Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, based in Stockholm. His research interests span a broad range within Earth System science, with an emphasis on sustainability and climate change
Dr. Bambang SusantonoVice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development
Asian Development Bank
Dr. Bambang Susantono
Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development,
Asian Development Bank
Dr. Bambang Susantono is the Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He is a distinguished thought leader on sustainable development, published author and active researcher. He has also taught at several universities and leading research institutes. Dr. Susantono is responsible for managing knowledge in ADB and coordinating research and studies on various topics such as energy, transport, water, education, health, finance, digital technology, urban; and cross-cutting nexus themes such as climate change, environment, governance, gender equality, social development, rural development and food security, and regional cooperation. He holds a PhD in Infrastructure Planning, as well as Master?s degrees in Transportation Engineering, and City and Regional Planning from the University of California Berkeley. Prior to this, Dr. Susantono was a former Vice-Minister of Indonesia?s Ministry of Transportation and Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Prof. Petteri TaalasSecretary General
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Prof. Petteri Taalas
Secretary General,
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Professor Taalas Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)for a mandate running from 2016 to 2019 and re-elected for a second term in June 2019. Director-General of the Finnish Meteorological Institute 2002-2005, 2007-2015 (National weather, Climate and marine Institute). Held positions in International development and scientific/environment fields: Director of Development and Regional Activities Department of WMO, Geneva 2005-2007 Research professor on Remote Sensing/FMI 2000-2002 Senior scientist/scientist at the FMI 1986-1999 ? Member of WMO Executive Council 2008-2015 ? Chairman of EUMETSAT Council 2010-2014 European Meteorological Satellite Organization ? Chairman of EUMETNET Council 2003-2005 (EUMETNET is a network of 31 European National Meteorological Services based in Brussels ? Member of ECMWF Council 2002-5, 2007-2015, (The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is an independent intergovernmental organisation supported by most of the nations of Europe and is based at Shenfield Park, Reading, UK) ? Principal Delegate of Finland to IPCC 2007-15 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) ? Member of American Meteorological Society 2007-2014 ? Honorary Doctor, Teri University, India (2016) ? Honorary Member 2015, China Meteorological Association ? Chairman of the Board of University of Eastern Finland (2009-2015) ? Member Board of Directors of Fortum Energy Company (2013-2015) ? Global Commission on Adaptation, Commissioner 2019. Co-led by Emeritus UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon and World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva ? Ex-patriot of the Year 2019/Finland. Elected by the Parliament of expats of Finland ? High-level Climate Action Summit for the heads of state by UN Secretary General, Steering group member and Chair of the Science Advisory Group, 2019 ? Nominated as the European of the Year by Reader`s Digest Magazine, 2021
Mr. Yasuo TakahashiExecutive Director
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Mr. Yasuo Takahashi
Executive Director,
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Mr. TAKAHASHI Yasuo graduated from the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, and in 1983, he joined the Environment Agency of Japan (the current Ministry of the Environment). He held key positions at the Ministry including Director of the Climate Policy Division, Director General of the Headquarters for Environmental Restoration of Fukushima, Director General of the Environmental Management Bureau, and Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs. After retiring from the Ministry in 2019, he was appointed Senior Advisor for the Ministry, and joined IGES in January 2020 as Special Policy Advisor. He has served as Executive Director of IGES since November 2020
Mr. Aaditya Uddhav Thackeray Hon?ble Cabinet Minister of Tourism, Environment and Protocol
Government of Maharashtra
Mr. Aaditya Uddhav Thackeray
Hon?ble Cabinet Minister of Tourism, Environment and Protocol ,
Government of Maharashtra
Aditya Uddhav Thackeray is an Indian Politician serving as Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment for the Government of Maharashtra. He is also an MLA of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mr. Frans TimmermansExecutive Vice-President for the European Green Deal
European Commission
Mr. Frans Timmermans
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal,
European Commission
Frans Timmermans began his career at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. After taking part in the junior diplomat training programme, he worked at the European Integration Department of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Moscow. He later worked for Hans van den Broek, European Commissioner for External Relations, and Max van der Stoel, High Commissioner on National Minorities for the OSCE. In 1998, Frans Timmermans was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA), where he dealt principally with foreign affairs. In the fourth Balkenende government, from February 2007 to February 2010, Mr Timmermans was Minister for European Affairs. In 2010, Mr Timmermans returned to Parliament as the Labour Partys spokesperson on foreign policy. On 5 November 2012, Mr Timmermans became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the second Rutte government. Two years later, on 1 November 2014, he became First Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for better regulation, interinstitutional relations, sustainable development, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Since 1 December 2019, he is the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for the Green Deal.
Mr. Stig TraavikDirector
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
Mr. Stig Traavik
Director,
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
Stig Traavik is Director of Climate & Environment in Norad - the Norwegian Govt Agency for Development Cooperation. He is a former Ambassador to Indonesia, and has more than 25 years of international diplomatic experience in Indonesia, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, and the UN/WTO. He was a Special Envoy for Norways International Forest and Climate initiative from 2018-2020. He has also worked in Venture Capital in South East Asia. He is a six time national judo champion, and represented Norway in the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992
Prof. Laurence TubianaChief Executive Officer
European Climate Foundation
Prof. Laurence Tubiana
Chief Executive Officer,
European Climate Foundation
Laurence Tubiana is CEO of the European Climate Foundation (ECF) and a Professor at Sciences Po, Paris. Before joining ECF, Laurence was France?s Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and as such a key architect of the landmark Paris Agreement. Following COP21 and through COP22, she was appointed UN High Level Champion for climate action. Laurence brings decades of expertise and experience in climate change, energy, agriculture and sustainable development, working across government, think tanks, NGOs and academia. From 1997 to 2002, she served as Senior Adviser on the Environment to the French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. From 2009 to 2010, she created and then led the newly established Directorate for Global Public Goods at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). In 2013, she chaired the French National Debate on the Energy Transition. She founded in 2002 and directed until 2014 the Paris-based Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI).
Mr. Adair TurnerChairman
Energy Transitions Commission
Mr. Adair Turner
Chairman,
Energy Transitions Commission
Lord Turner chairs the Energy Transitions Commission, a global coalition of power and industrial companies, investors, environmental NGOs and experts working out achievable pathways to limit global warming to below 2øC by 2040. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for New Economic Thinking, Chairman of insurer group Chubb Europe and an on the Advisory Board of Envision Energy (Shanghai) His career in public policy has included chairing the UK?s Financial Services Authority (2008-2013), and playing an influential role in the redesign of global banking regulation; he was Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (1995-2000); chairman of the UK Low Pay Commission (2002-2006); chairman of the Pensions Commision (2003-2006); and chairman of the Climate Change Committee (2008-2012). He became an independent member of the House of Lords in 2006. He has also held senior positions in business: McKinsey&Co (1982-1995); Merrill Lynch Europe (2000-2006) and Standard Chartered plc (2006-2008). He writes for Project Syndicate, and is an honorary fellow of The Royal Society
Mr. Arne WaltherIndependent Adviser
Walther International Consulting
Mr. Arne Walther
Independent Adviser ,
Walther International Consulting
Ambassador Arne Walther is an independent adviser on government relations, geopolitics and international energy affairs. He is a member of the International Steering Committee for the World Sustainable Development. A former career diplomat, he served as Norway?s Ambassador to Japan (2009-2014), to Austria and the UN Organisations in Vienna (2002-2003) and Ambassador to India (1995-1999). He was Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency in Paris (2000-2002) and the first Secretary General of the International Energy Forum headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2003-2007). Ambassador Walther was an Associate Fellow at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Norway (2014-2018). He has served as Special Advisor on International Affairs to former Norwegian Prime Minister Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland (1987-1989) and Political Advisor to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy (1980-1981)
Prof. Mark WilliamsProfessor, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
University of Leicester
Prof. Mark Williams
Professor, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment,
University of Leicester
Mark Williams is a geologist at Leicester University. He studies the evolution of life on Earth over hundreds of millions of years and has been a long-time member (and former Secretary) of the Anthropocene Working Group. The major focus of his recent work is understanding the impact of humans on the biosphere and trying to devise relationships with nature that are mutually beneficial for both humans and non-humans. He has co-authored popular science books with Jan Zalasiewicz on climate change, ocean evolution, and the story of life on Earth, and with Jan and Julia Thomas he co-authored The Anthropocene: A Multidisciplinary Approach. His new book with Jan is called ?The cosmic oasis: the remarkable story of Earth?s biosphere
Mr. Bhupender YadavMinister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India
Mr. Bhupender Yadav
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India
Shri. Bhupender Yadav is currently a cabinet minister and is the Hon?ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Minister of Labour and Employment since July 2021. Mr. Yadav is a member of Rajya Sabha and an Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. He has co-authored Supreme Court on Forest Conservation published by the Universal Law Publisher, 2005; for nine years i.e. 2000-2009 continuously published ?Nyayapravah?, a legal magazine published by the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad and various articles published in ?Nyaypravah? and other leading newspapers and magazines. He has held several positions including on the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice; Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011; Business Advisory Committee; Committee on Industry; Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence; Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2014; Select Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015; Select Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Second Amendment) Bill, 2014; Select Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013; Joint Committee on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015; Select Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016; Joint Committee on the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Committee of Transport, Tourism and Culture; Committee on Commerce Member, General Purposes Committee; Committee on Public Accounts; Committee of Rajya Sabha on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Third Amendment) Bill, 2017; Content Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha Television; Joint Committee on the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017; Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice; General Purposes Committee; Committee on Home Affairs; Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Finance; Select Committee of Rajya Sabha on Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019; Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019; Working Group-I- (Civil) of the Public Accounts Committee; and Member, Committee on Rules
Prof. Jan ZalasiewiczGeologist
University of Leicester, UK
Prof. Jan Zalasiewicz
Geologist,
University of Leicester, UK
Jan Zalasiewicz is Emeritus Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Leicester, previously of the British Geological Survey. He chairs the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy of the International Commission on Stratigraphy and is a member of its Anthropocene Working Group. A field geologist, palaeontologist and stratigrapher, interests include Early Palaeozoic fossils and rocks, the Quaternary Ice Ages and the geology made by humans. He is a co-editor of The Anthropocene as a geological time unit: a guide to the scientific evidence and current debate (2019). Books he has written include The Earth After Us (2008), The Planet in a Pebble (2010), and (with Mark Williams) The Goldilocks Planet (2012), Ocean Worlds (2014), Skeletons (2018) and Cosmic Oasis (2022)
Dr. Jinfeng ZhouSecretary General
China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Dr. Jinfeng Zhou
Secretary General,
China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Dr.ÿJinfengÿZhouÿisÿtheÿincumbentÿSecretaryÿGeneralÿofÿChinaÿBiodiversityÿConservationÿandÿGreenÿDevelopmentÿFoundationÿ(CBCGDF),ÿaÿleadingÿenvironmentalÿNGOÿinÿChina.ÿHeÿisÿalsoÿanÿExecutiveÿCommitteeÿmemberÿofÿtheÿClubÿofÿRomeÿandÿtheÿWorldÿCommissionÿEnvironmentalÿLawÿ(WCEL)ÿofÿIUCN,ÿaÿmemberÿofÿtheÿWorldÿCommissionÿonÿProtectedÿAreasÿ(WCPA)ÿofÿIUCN,ÿandÿaÿmemberÿofÿIUCNÿWCPAÿTaskÿForceÿonÿOtherÿEffectiveÿArea-BasedÿConservationÿMeasuresÿ(OECMs),ÿaÿBoardÿmemberÿofÿtheÿSUNxÿ(StrongÿUniversalÿNetwork),ÿChiefÿresearcherÿofÿgreenÿdevelopmentÿatÿtheÿInternetÿFinanceÿResearchÿInstituteÿofÿZhejiangÿUniversity,ÿViceÿChairmanÿofÿtheÿWorldÿGreenÿDesignÿOrganization (WGDO)
Dr. Rachna Arora 
Mr. Siddharth Goel 
Mr. Prabodha Acharya
Mr. Abhejit Agarwal
Ms. Smita Agarwal
Dr. Rashmi Aggarwal
Mr. Mayank Aggarwal
Dr. Anupam Agnihotri
Mr. Rainer Agster
Mr. Montek Ahluwalia
Dr. Manish Anand
Dr. Sriram Appulingam
Dr. Suresh Kumar Attri 
Mr. Kirtiman Awasthi 
Ms. Madhuri Bahadur
Mr. Abhay Bakre
Dr. Malini Balakrishnan
Mr. Siddarthan Balasubramania
Dr. Anup Bandivadekar
Mr. Swaroop Banerjee
Prof. Rangan Banerjee
Mr. Dipal Chandra Barua
Mr. Kalicharan Basumatary
Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj
Dr. Girija K Bharat
Mr. Saurabh Bhardwaj
Col. Vijay Bhaskar 
Mr. Subhomoy Bhattacharjee
Mr. Souvik Bhattacharjya
Dr. Arvind Bodhankar 
Ms. Prarthana Borah
Mr. Sujoy Bose
Ms. Jesse Burton
Dr. Antje C Berger
Mr. Magnus Cederlöf
Dr. Paromita Chakraborty
Dr. Lovneesh Chanana
Prof. Ramesh Chand
Dr. Sandip Chatterjee
Mr. Vaibhav Chatuvedi
Mr. Chanakya Chaudhary
Mr. Sumanta Chaudhuri
Mr. Ankur Chawla
Dr. Sangeeta Chopra
Mr. Sandeep Roy Choudhury
Mr. Stephan Contius
Dr. Winfried Damm
Mr. Jonathan Demenge 
Mr. Lingaraj Dinni
Mr. Pyush Dogra 
Mr. Daniel Dorner
Mr. Erlend Draget
Mr. Sanjay Dubey 
Mr. Hans-Peter Egler
Dr. Cristiano Facanha
Mr. Valentin Foltescu
Mr. Asheesh Fotedar 
Ms. Sindhu Gangadharan
Dr. Prashant Gargava
Mr. Jai Kumar Gaurav 
Mr. Nilanjan Ghose
Mr. Anirban Ghosh
Prof. Ashok Ghosh
Dr. Anju Goel
Prof. A K Gosain 
Mr. C P Goyal
Ms. Neha Gupta
Mr. Naman Gupta
Mr. Vikrant Gupta
Mr. P K Gupta
Ms. Anna Hentinnen
Mr. Helmut Hojesky 
Dr. Rachel Hurley
Ms. Taruna Idnani
Prof. Priya Jadhav
Mr. Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale
Dr. Anil Kumar Jain
Dr. K.S Jayachandran
Mr. Jeevan Kumar Jethani
Mr. Abhas Jha
Dr. Subodh Jindal 
Dr. Anupam Joshi
Dr. Ashwini K Swain
Dr. Jayahari K.M
Mr. Girishkumar Kadam
Mr. Amitabh Kant
Mr. Ayaskant Kanungo
Mr. Rahul Kapoor
Dr. Shilpi Kapur
Dr. Ing. Anke Karmann-Woessner 
Mr. Abhishek Kaushik
Ms. Ulka Kelkar
Mr. Thomas Kerr
Dr. Kunal Prakash Khemnar
Ms. Ghislaine Kieffer
Mr. Edwin Koekkoek 
Mr. Pushkar Kulkarni
Mr. Rajiv Kumar
Dr. Archana Kumar
Ms. Ritu Kumar
Mr. S Vijay Kumar
Mr. Rajeev Kumar
Mr. Sudhir Kumar
Mr. Ashok Kumar
Mr. Alok Kumar
Mr. Kunal Kumar 
Mr. S Sunil Kumar
Ms. Sejal Kumari
Mr. Amit Lahoti
Mr. Ole Larsen
Mr. Sharath Loganathan
Mr. Paul Marriott
Ms. Raelene Martin
Dr. Vikrom Mathur
Mr. Anshul Mathur
Dr. Vinod Mathur
Mr. Clarence Woo Chee Meng
Dr. Gokce Mete
Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra
Mr. Vinamra Mishra 
Mr. Sanjay Mitra
Mr. Vineet Mittal
Mr. Richie Mittal
Dr. Anant Mohan
Ms. Saina Mohanty
Mr. Brian Motherway 
Mr. Polash Mukerjee
Mr. R Mukundan
Mr. Arupendra Nath Mullick
Dr. Muthukrishnan Murugesan
Dr. Ajay Nagpure
Dr. Sachchida Nand
Ms. Ekta Narain
Mr. S.R. Narasimhan
Mr. Rakesh Nath
Prof. Nandan Nawn
Mr. S S Negi
Ms. Anupam Nidhi
Dr. Luca Nizzetto
Dr. Marianne Olsen
Mr. Suresh Padmanabhan
Mr. Rajesh Pahwa
Dr. Debajit Palit
Mr. Suneel Pamidi
Mr. Surendra Kumar Pandey
Dr. Suneel Pandey
Mr. Mitesh Pandya
Dr. Rajesh Pandya
Mr. Ulhas Parlikar
Ms. Kreena Patel
Ms. Johanna Lissinger Peitz
Ms. Lucie Pluschke
Mr. Pablo Benitez Ponce 
Ms. Khushbu Prajapati
Mr. Gulab Chandra Prajapati
Mr. Shri Prakash
Mr. Nitin Prasad
Mr. Sharif Qamar
Dr. Lakshmi Raghupathy
Ms. Kamilla Kristensen Rai 
Mr. Rajnath Ram
Prof. K Ramanathan
Mr. I V Rao
Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao
Ms. Rajsree Ray
Ms. Lily Riahi
Mr. Sourav Roy
Mr. Rajiv Sangoi
Dr. Syamal Kumar Sarkar
Mr. Shrinath Savoor
Mr. A K Saxena
Dr. Heinz Schandl
Ms. Astrid Schomaker
Prof. P. K. Sen 
Mr. Sanjay Seth
Mr. Girish Sethi
Dr. Shwetal Shah 
Dr. J V Sharma
Dr. Divya Sharma
Mr. Kartikey Sharma
Dr. Brij Mohan Sharma
Mr. Ruchir Shukla
Mr. Pankaj Sindwani
Ms. Dimple Singh
Dr. Ashok kumar Singh
Mr. Lokendra Singh
Mr. Ranjit Singh
Mr. Jarnail Singh
Dr. Pratima Singh
Ms. Anshu Singh
Ms. Roli Singh
Prof. Shaleen Singhal
Ms. Jaya Varma Sinha
Mr. Satish Sinha
Mr. Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha
Mr. Shirish Sinha
Ms. R Smitha 
Ms. Rhea Srivastava
Mr. Vinit Srivastava
Mr. Eirik H. Steindal
Ms. Elke Steinmetz
Mr. Freddy Svane 
Dr. Pradip Swarnakar
Ms. Akshima T Ghate
Mr. Ajay Talegaonkar 
Ms. Cecilia Tam
Mr. Sandeep Tandon 
Mr. Jigmet Tapka
Mr. Andrea Terron
Mr. D.M. Thakar 
Mr. Devang M Thaker
Dr. Shanth A Thimmaiah
Mr. Ashish Tiwari
Mr. Naveen Unni
Mr. Hitesh Vaidya
Prof. Ashish Verma
Mr. Shilp Verma
Mr. R K Vij 
Ms. Namita Vikas
Dr. Simon Zadek
Ms. Ying Zhang