Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage

by Felix Dodds (Editor), Chris Spence (Editor)

Today more than ever, when the world is beset by environmental, social, healthcare and economic challenges, we need courage in our politics, both nationally and globally. This book tells the stories, some for the first time, of twelve individuals who made heroic contributions to protecting our planet through ground-breaking international treaties. Can individuals change the world? Today, when impersonal forces and new technologies seem to be directing our lives and even our entire planet in ways we cannot control, this question feels more relevant than ever before. This book argues that we can all make a difference. It tells inspiring stories of individuals who have had a global impact that is beyond dispute, as well as others who have brought about change that is understated or hard to measure, where the scale of the impact will only become clear in years to come. While some are scientists, others are politicians, diplomats, activists, and even businesspeople. However, they all share the qualities of perseverance, patience, a willingness to innovate or try new approaches, and the endurance to continue over years, even decades, to pursue their goal. Drawing on interviews and the inside stories of those involved, each chapter follows one or more of these heroic individuals, a list which includes Luc Hoffmann, Mostafa Tolba, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Raul Oyuela Estrada, Barack Obama and Paula Caballero. Presenting an uplifting and gripping narrative, this book is an invaluable resource for students, scholars, activists and professionals who are seeking to understand how consensus is reached in these global meetings and how individuals can have a genuine impact on preserving our planet and reinforcing the positive message that global cooperation can actually work.

190 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2022

Reviews

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a collection of biographies of people from different walks of life who made a difference in environmental conservation. IISD’s ENB provided a lot of material for this book, along with interviews conducted by different authors, and the authors' personal experience. I picked up this book because I wanted to know more about Maurice Strong, a Winnipeger who was the CEO of PetroCanada before becoming the first Executive Director of UNEP, and also played a role in IISD’s history. Profiles of all other individuals featured in the book are equally interesting and inspiring. There is clearly a generation change too – the Maurice Strong or his successor Mostafa Tolba scenarios are hardly likely to materialize these days. Profiles of Christiana Figueres, Paola Caballero and Franz Perez are more what we need to identify with when in our work we look for the champions we can support and learn from. The paradox the authors were dealing with was that if somebody wants to become a hero, sustainable development is perhaps the worst area to work in because the path to results is very long and difficult, and ultimately the glory is only in a small circle of people who care about sustainable development. Yet, people need heroes to relate to the cause, and to be inspired for action. I recommend you read this book – you can read it chapter by chapter, they are relatively short.