“The escalating climate and biodiversity crises share many common drivers, and these must be tackled through common solutions,” said IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak. “It is a great pleasure to welcome Manuel Pulgar-Vidal as the Interim Chair of the new Climate Crisis Commission. He brings extensive, high-level experience and expertise that will help accelerate IUCN’s response to this critical challenge. Under his leadership, I am confident that this vital new Commission will help boost global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change based on the best available science.”

Manuel Pulgar Vidal previously served as Minister of the Environment of Peru (2011 to 2016) and as President of the Twentieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP20 in 2014. He has been recognised for his contributions to the Paris Agreement by the governments of France, Germany and Spain. He is currently global leader of Climate and Energy at IUCN Member organisation WWF.

“As the sheer scale of the climate crisis comes into focus, so does the need to dramatically escalate our responses to it. The new Climate Crisis Commission seeks to harness IUCN’s unique global network and range of expertise to addressing the climate emergency and the intertwined crisis of nature loss by promoting convergence of our collective objectives and with concrete actions. I am delighted to take on the role of leading this effort,” said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal.

IUCN Commissions are active networks of over 18,000 scientists and experts providing the Union and its Members with knowledge, policy advice and thought leadership to help drive conservation action and sustainable development. With the CCC, IUCN now has seven Commissions. The work of IUCN’s six other Commissions covers: environmental, economic and social policy; ecosystem management; species survival; environmental law; protected areas; and education and communication.