Inger Andersen

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Inger Andersen

The Director

Inger Andersen was appointed U.N. Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director United of the Nations Environment Programme in June 2019 in what she described as a “critical time for humanity.” Having built her career for more than 30 years at the United Nations and World Bank, hop-scotching between focusing on economics, policymaking, water management and the environmental sustainability, there was no question about her qualifications for this role as she slid into it with calm grace.

Which is precisely what makes it all the more eyebrow-raising when she does lift her voice. When Andersen’s seemingly unwavering composure breaks as she decries the lack of action on climate change – “We’ve been saying the window is closing, but now I really mean it!” – people know the situation demands attention.

“We hold in our hands this frightening responsibility, this awesome responsibility, to forever change the trajectory of our planet,” she says. Since assuming the directorship, she has already demonstrated her own sense of responsibility by pushing forward the U.N. Decade on Ecosystem Restoration; quickly boosting nature-based solutions on the global environmental agenda; and, perhaps most importantly, using her position to not only act but also to inspire.

“It’s critical that we think of nature not just as a carbon bank, but that we think of nature as this vibrant Mother Earth that gives us all our identity and our presence, because when we protect nature, nature protects us.”

Camille Rivera

The Steward

Jennifer Pryce

The Investor Finance

Constance Okollet

The Changemaker Food & Livelihoods

Gloria Amor Paredes

The Advocate

Ridhima Pandey

The Activist

Musonda Mumba

The Mobilizer

Ndidi Nwuneli

The Transformer

Yuriko Backes

The Politician

Jolene Marie Cholock-Rotinsulu

The Role Model Youth

Ko Barrett

The Connector

Houria Djoudi

The Protector

Rekia Foudel

The Fundraiser

Alexandria Villaseñor

The Optimist Youth

Syeda Rizwana Hasan

The Advocate

Ayesha Khan

The Investor

Andrea Meza Murillo

The Strategist