Special Envoys

The Special Envoys will support engagement and outreach with priority sectors and regions to help ensure the success of COP30. There are 10 envoys for strategic regions, who will act more broadly in the regions they represent, and 20 envoys for key sectors.

The envoys, who will serve on a voluntary and personal basis, will act as key liaisons for the flow of information and perspectives from the areas they represent, enabling faster and more effective interactions. They will also serve as direct channels to submit demands and requests to the COP30 Presidency, acting as contact points for their respective sectors and regions.

Envoys for Strategic Regions

ADNAN AMIN

Middle East

Kenyan diplomat and development economist who served as the first Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) from 2011 to 2019. In 2022, he was appointed CEO of COP28 UAE, where he oversaw the summit that produced the landmark UAE Consensus. He has headed the UN System Chief Executives Board Secretariat, directed the Secretariat for the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on System-wide Coherence, and led UNEP's New York Office. He has been a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Sussex.

ARUNABHA GHOSH

South Asia

Founder and CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), one of Asia’s leading climate think tanks. He played a key role in the creation of the International Solar Alliance and has experience working across 54 countries. With a background that includes Princeton, Oxford, the UNDP, and the WTO, he currently co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Energy Nexus and has served as the Vice-Chair of the UN Committee for Development Policy for the period 2023-2025. He was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero in 2022. He holds a D.Phil. from Oxford.

CARLOS LOPES

Africa

Bissau-Guinean development economist and Honorary Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town. He served as Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (2012–2016) and as High Representative of the African Union for partnerships with Europe. Earlier, he was the UNDP Resident Representative in Brazil, overseeing one of the largest UNDP programs globally. He chairs the board of the African Climate Foundation and is a visiting professor at Sciences Po Paris. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the Panthéon-Sorbonne University.

DENIS MINEV

Amazonian private sector

Stanford University economist, CEO of Bemol, and investor in sustainable projects in the Amazon. He previously served as Secretary of Planning and Economic Development for Amazonas state and co-founded the Sustainable Amazon Foundation. He is recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and holds an MBA from the Wharton School.

JACINDA ARDERN

Oceania

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017–2023), Dame Jacinda Ardern is recognized globally for her empathetic leadership and progressive policies. Since stepping down, she has continued her public service as Patron of the Christchurch Call Foundation, focusing on eliminating terrorist and extremist content online. Ardern also serves as a trustee of The Earthshot Prize, supporting innovative environmental solutions. In 2023, she was appointed Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She holds fellowships at Harvard University, including the Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellowship and the Hauser Leaders Program at the Kennedy School.

JOAQUIM BELO

Amazonian civil society

Extractivist leader and Secretary of Training and Communication for the National Council of Extractivist Populations (CNS), where he previously served as president for three terms. He has a long history of advocating for traditional Amazonian communities, with active participation in councils and committees related to the environment and sustainable development.

JONATHAN PERSHING

North America

Director for Environment at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, with decades of experience in U.S. and international climate diplomacy. He served as Deputy to Presidential Envoy John Kerry, as Special Envoy for Climate Change at the U.S. Department of State, and held senior roles at the U.S. Department of Energy, the International Energy Agency, and the World Resources Institute. He has participated in UN climate negotiations since 1990 and was part of the IPCC team awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He holds a Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from the University of Minnesota.

LAURENCE TUBIANA

Europe

CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a key architect of the Paris Agreement, where she served as France’s Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21. She previously advised Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on environmental policy, and founded the Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales (IDDRI). She co-chaired France’s Citizens’ Climate Convention and is currently Professor at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and co-chair of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force. In 2024, she was awarded the Légion d’Honneur for her contributions to climate diplomacy.

PATRICIA ESPINOSA

Latin America and the Caribbean

Mexican diplomat with over 35 years of experience in international relations who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico (2006–2012) and as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2016–2022), where she led the implementation of the Paris Agreement. She is currently the CEO and co-founder of onepoint5, a climate and ESG consultancy, and serves on various international boards and initiatives focused on climate diplomacy. She holds a degree in International Relations from El Colegio de México and completed postgraduate studies in International Law in Geneva.

XIE ZHENHUA

East Asia

China’s longtime climate envoy. He played a central role in global climate negotiations, including the Paris Agreement and U.S.–China climate diplomacy. A former Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration, he served as China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change until 2024. He is currently Chair of the California-China Climate Institute and leads the Zhenhua Fund for green transition and sustainable development. He holds a degree in engineering physics from Tsinghua University and a master’s in environmental law from Wuhan University.

Sectoral Envoys

ANDRÉ GUIMARÃES

Civil society

Agronomist and environmental leader, he has been the Executive Director of IPAM since 2015. Previously led Conservation International's Americas division, the World Bank's Tropical Forest Pilot Program, and founded Brasil Florestas. He directed multiple environmental organizations including A2R Environmental Funds, IBio Institute (BioAtlântica), and Imazon. He holds an agronomy degree from the University of Brasília and a Master's in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University.

BETO VERÍSSIMO

Forests

Co-founder of Imazon and director of both the Amazon Entrepreneurship Center and Brazil's Social Progress Index (IPS Brasil). He promotes sustainable development in the region and coordinates the Amazon 2030 project. He is also a research affiliate at Princeton University's Brazil LAB. He holds an agricultural engineering degree from the Federal Rural University of Amazonia (UFRA) with postgraduate studies in Ecology.

CLEMENTE GANZ

Unions

Coordinator of the Trade Union Centers Forum, member of the Council for Economic and Social Development (CDESS) and Oxfam Brazil's Deliberative Council. He served as technical director of DIEESE from 2004 to 2020. He has a long history of advocating for workers' rights, sustainable development, and social justice. He holds a sociology degree from PUC-SP.

DENISE DORA

Human rights and just transition

Human rights lawyer and feminist activist. She previously served as Regional Director of Article 19 Brazil and South America, and is currently a member of the International Councils of NAMATI, Amnesty International, and Brazil's Ibirapitanga Institute. Co-founder and first Executive Director of THEMIS - Gender, Justice and Human Rights (1993-1999), she worked at the Ford Foundation (2000-2011) and taught law for over 15 years. She holds master's degrees in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex and in History, Politics and Cultural Heritage from FGV, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Policy at UFRGS.

ELBIA GANNOUM

Energy

Economist with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, she is the Executive President of ABEEólica (Brazilian Wind Energy and New Technologies Association) and vice-chair of the Global Wind Energy Council. Mother of three and diversity advocate in the energy sector, she co-founded the "Energy of Transformation" platform. Recognized with the CEE Woman of Distinction Award 2019, Folha de S.Paulo's "Todas" Award 2024, and Top of the Year - Leaders in Energy 2025. As a WomeninWind ambassador, she has experience at CCEE, the Ministries of Mines and Energy and Finance, and ANEEL, with numerous publications on energy regulation since 1998. She holds a Ph.D. in Production Engineering.

ETHEL MACIEL

Health

Epidemiologist, nurse, and full professor at the Federal University of Espírito Santo, where she served as vice-rector and elected rector. She was Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance at the Ministry of Health (2023-2025). An infectious disease specialist with a focus on tuberculosis, she chairs the World Health Organization's Technical Advisory Group (STAG-TB) and consults for the Pan American Health Organization's Strategic Group for Disease Elimination Initiative in the Americas region.

FREDERICO ASSIS

Data integrity

International Relations strategist and current Chair of EBC's board. He previously served in the Special Advisory Office of the Presidency, where he focused on combating disinformation. Before that, he was special advisor to Mayor Fernando Haddad and to the 2018 presidential campaign. His expertise includes political intelligence for sustainability, strategic communication, and crisis management. He holds a degree in International Relations and a master's in Social History from the University of São Paulo.

JANJA LULA DA SILVA

Women

Sociologist and Brazil's First Lady, she is married to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. She previously coordinated Social and Environmental Responsibility Programs at Itaipu Binational Hydroelectric and has distinguished herself advocating for children and adolescents, women's rights, and gender equity. She holds a degree in Sociology from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), an MBA in Social Management and Sustainability, and additional studies in History and Urban Development.

JUREMA WERNECK

Racial equality and marginalized urban communities

Physician and Executive Director of Amnesty International Brazil since 2017, she holds a doctorate in Communication and Culture from UFRJ. Co-founder of Criola, a Black women's organization based in Rio de Janeiro, and the Articulation of Brazilian Black Women's Organizations, where she served as the first executive secretary. She is a leading authority on human rights, racial and gender equality, and Black population health, having published books and articles on racism, health, and sexual and reproductive rights. She serves on the boards of Criola, Marielle Franco Institute, Greenpeace Brazil, and Vital Strategies Brazil.

MAGUY ETLIN

Culture and creative industries

Entrepreneur and curator who co-founded BlastU, a cutting-edge platform bridging technology and cultural expression. As Vice President of the São Paulo Biennial Foundation, she shapes Brazil's contemporary art landscape while drawing on her extensive background in design and creative entrepreneurship to influence cultural development across multiple sectors.

MARCELO BEHAR

Bioeconomy

Attorney and public policy expert who leads climate initiatives as Senior Advisor to WBCSD and CEBDS for COP30. He was the Vice-Minister for Strategic Affairs (2003-2008) and head of the Federal Disarmament Campaign, followed by fifteen years as a C-Level executive at sustainability-focused companies including CSN and Natura. He co-founded Ambition Loop Brazil, and currently coordinates FGV-SP's Climate Governance Forum and serves on the boards of organizations including Instituto Ethos and WWF-Brazil. He holds a law degree from the University of São Paulo and a master's in Public Policy from the London School of Economics

MARCELLO BRITO

Amazonian subnational governments

Food Engineer with over 30 years of experience in agribusiness and Amazon development. He currently serves as Executive Secretary of the Legal Amazon Consortium, Academic Director of FDC-Agroambiental, and board member for various companies and NGOs. Previously chaired the Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG) and co-facilitated the Brazil, Climate, Forest and Agriculture Coalition. He holds a degree in Food Engineering from UNIFEB, an MBA in International Trade from FIA/USP, and a master's in Administration Strategy, Science and International Trade Management from Pierre-Mendès-France University.

MARINA GROSSI

Business sector

President of CEBDS since 2010 with over 25 years of experience in climate change and sustainable finance. She represented Brazil in UN climate negotiations (1997-2001) and coordinated the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change. She serves on multiple boards including Neoenergia, Norte Energia, JBS Amazon Fund, IBRAM, Edelman's Independent Climate Expert Council, and the Presidential Sustainable Social and Economic Development Council. She holds an economics degree from the University of Brasília with specialized training from Fundação Dom Cabral and Cambridge University.

MARINEZ SCHERER

Oceans

Marine biologist and coastal management expert who coordinates the Integrated Coastal Management Laboratory as an associate professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. She represents Brazil and co-chairs the IOC/UNESCO Working Group on Ocean Planning and Sustainable Management, while also co-leading the Cono Sur Regional Training Center of the Ocean Teachers Global Academy. With extensive experience providing technical advisory and capacity building across four continents, she specializes in coastal and marine management throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. She holds a doctorate in Marine Sciences.

MAYA GABEIRA

Sports

World record-holding big wave surfer, environmental activist, and author who rode a 73.5-foot wave in Nazaré, Portugal in 2020. Winner of multiple international awards including an ESPY for Best Female Action Sports Athlete, she was named UNESCO Champion for the Ocean and Youth in 2022. She serves on the Board of Directors of Oceana, the world's largest organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation. After a two-decade career, she announced her retirement from professional surfing in 2025.

PAULO PETERSEN

Family Farming

Agroecologist and Executive Coordinator of AS-PTA who serves on the executive committee of the National Articulation of Agroecology and the board of the Brazilian Association of Agroecology. He is a council member of the National Commission for Agroecology and Organic Production, where he participates in its Coordinating Board. He holds an agronomy degree from the Federal University of Viçosa, a master's in Agroecology and Rural Development, and a doctorate in Environmental Studies from Spain.

PHILIP YANG

Urban solutions

Urban innovator and founder of the URBEM Institute, dedicated to sustainable urban development projects. He is also a Senior Fellow at CEBRI. Previously served as an Itamaraty diplomat from 1992 to 2002, with postings in Geneva, Beijing, and Washington. He holds a master's in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a law degree from the University of São Paulo.

ROBERTO RODRIGUES

Agriculture

Agricultural economist who served as Brazil's Minister of Agriculture (2003-2006) and Secretary of Agriculture and Supply for the State of São Paulo. He chaired multiple leading organizations including ABAG, SRB, COSAG/FIESP, and the International Cooperative Alliance. Currently Professor Emeritus at FGV and FAO Special Ambassador for cooperativism, he also serves on various boards related to agribusiness and sustainability. He holds an agricultural engineering degree from ESALQ/USP and was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by UNESP.

SÉRGIO XAVIER

Brazilian Climate Change Forum

Environmental policy expert and Executive Coordinator of the Brazilian Climate Change Forum since 2023. As Pernambuco's Secretary of Environment and Sustainability (2011-2017), he spearheaded initiatives including the state's first Climate Change Plan and the Noronha Carbon Neutral program. His work focuses on developing public policies for ecological transition and regenerative economics. He holds a journalism degree from the Catholic University of Pernambuco.

SINÉIA DO VALE

Indigenous peoples

Wapichana Indigenous leader from the Serra da Lua Indigenous Territory who co-chairs the UNFCCC Indigenous Caucus since 2024. She coordinates the Territorial, Environmental and Climate Change Management Department at the Indigenous Council of Roraima while actively participating in the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform. With over a decade of climate advocacy experience, she serves on multiple national and international committees. She holds an environmental management degree from Cathedral College and is completing a master's in Sustainability at the University of Brasília.