Christiana Figueres

Christiana Figures is a world leader in the fight against climate change. A key figure in launching the ground-breaking Paris Agreement, she has also held the position of Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. A leading expert on sustainability and the environment, as well as an experienced and passionate speaker, Christiana is often booked by organisations that are serious about doing their bit for the environment.

She started her career as Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Costa Rica in Germany after she completed degrees at Swarthmore College and London School of Economics. Continuing her work in the Costa Rican government she was named Director of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Planning and then Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture. In 1994 she became Director of the Renewable Energy in the Americas Initiative before becoming founding Executive Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development in the Americas. She also spent 15 years representing Costa Rica as an international negotiator and was a figurehead in the Clean Development Mechanism. Alongside this she was on the board of directors at Winrock International and International Institute for Energy Conservation as well as advising businesses such as C-Quest Capital and ENDESA Latinoamerica.

Following the COP15 conference, Christiana was named Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. She led six consecutive yearly climate summits, ending in the Paris Agreement which brought world leaders together with the common goal of tackling climate change. After leaving her position in 2016 she has worked with organisations such as the IOC, Formula E, Impossible Foods and Acciona, supporting them in their efforts to become more sustainable. She was also Costa Rica’s official candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General. Her efforts have been rewarded by governments as she was awarded the Legion of Honour of France and the National Guayacan Medal of Costa Rica as well as several other awards from countries across the world. She also received over 30 civil awards including being awarded the Laureate International Four Freedoms Awards. The international press has also heaped praise on Christiana and her accolades include being named in the Top 100 Influential Leaders in the World by Times Magazine. 

When booked for events Christiana Figures, not only educates her audience on the causes of climate change on both a corporate and personal level, but she also provides them with practical strategies to become more sustainable and live an environmentally friendly life. Her passionate and engaging approach leaves her audiences feeling motivated to go out and make real changes at work and in their private lives to help the fight against climate change.