Embracing Collective Leadership

Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres is widely recognized as the driving force behind the 2015 Paris Agreement, where 196 countries pledged to keep climate warming levels below 2°C. What is less known is that during this pivotal moment, she was grappling with deep personal trauma, including the emotional toll of a marriage breakdown. In the midst of this struggle, she found solace and strength in the teachings of Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, whose wisdom, she credits, helped her navigate the intense negotiations that led to the landmark climate accord.

Figueres, a veteran of every COP, has dedicated her life to driving global change. She co-founded Global Optimism, champions young climate activists, and serves as co-host of the Earthshot Prize as well as the popular podcast Outrage and Optimism. In her book, The Future We Choose: A Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis, she lays out two possible futures: one in which humanity achieves net-zero emissions by 2050, and another shaped by devastating inaction.

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