Christiana Figueres

Christiana Figueres Olsen (born August 24, 1956) is a Costa Rican diplomat, author, and climate change activist who has become one of the world's leading voices on global climate policy. She served as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016, a pivotal period during which she champassed the historic Paris Agreement in 2015—a landmark accord that united nearly every country in the world to combat climate change. Born into a prominent Costa Rican family with a strong diplomatic tradition, Figueres brought strategic vision and tireless negotiation skills to the role. Under her leadership, the UNFCCC transformed from an organization often gridlocked by national interests into one capable of achieving consensus on transformative climate action. After leaving the UN, she founded the Global Optimism organization and continues to advise governments, businesses, and international bodies on climate strategy. Her work has fundamentally shaped how the world approaches climate change mitigation and adaptation.