Since 1995, countries around the world have been gathering under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to understand and find a solution to human-caused climate change. Protocols and agreements have been made, such as the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and Paris Agreement (2015), with the aim of lowering emissions that have a greenhouse effect and cause global warming. Despite these efforts, climate change remains a threat. Yolanda Kakabadse is an important voice in articulating the global threat posed by climate change. In this speaker series, Kakabadse, Former President of World Wildlife Fund International, will speak about how fighting climate change is entwined the struggle for world peace. She will also help us understand how grassroots practice turns into public policy.
Yolanda Kakabadse’s work with the environmental conservation movement officially began in 1979, when she was appointed Executive Director of Fundación Natura in Quito, and she stayed with them until 1990. In 1993, she created Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano, an organization pursuing sustainable development through conflict prevention. She was the Executive President until 2006 and remains as Chair of the Advisory Board. From 1990 until 1992, Yolanda Kakabadse coordinated the participation of civil society organizations for the United Nations Conference for Environment and Development (Earth Summit). From 1996 to 2004 she was President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and Member of the Board of the World Resources Institute (WRI) during the same period. Yolanda was appointed Minister of Environment for the Republic of Ecuador, a position she held from 1998 until 2000. She is a Member of the Board of Arabesque, and Chairs the Independent Science and Technology Panel of Fundación Renova in Brazil. Yolanda is also a Member of the Board of Sistema B and the B Team.