Prominent climate change negotiator, Christiana Figueres, assumed the role of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in May 2010. This appointment marked a significant transition for Figueres, who had previously served as the Vice Chair of the Carbon Rating Agency (CRA), an IDEAcarbon company, and held a pivotal position within the CRA rating committee.
IDEAcarbon celebrated Figueres’ appointment as a significant and welcome development. The organisation anticipated that her vast experience and expertise would bring renewed energy to international climate change negotiations, particularly in the pursuit of a comprehensive global agreement.
Shandi Modi, CEO of IDEAcarbon, expressed confidence in Figueres’ ability to steer the UNFCCC toward a global climate deal, stating “Christiana Figueres’ background in finance makes her an excellent choice to shepherd the UNFCCC towards a global climate deal, with an integral role that the carbon markets can play in achieving its objectives. She is widely seen as a negotiator who is able to bring complex issues between parties to a common approach. I am sure we speak for many in the private sector in warmly congratulating Christiana and wishing her luck in her new position.”
Ian Johnson, Chairman of IDEAcarbon, highlighted the private sector’s positive reception of Figueres’ appointment. Her understanding of the private sector’s role in climate change and carbon markets resonated with industry stakeholders, offering promise for greater private sector engagement in addressing these critical issues.
Figueres’ association with the Carbon Rating Agency (CRA) and IDEAcarbon extended beyond her role as an international climate change negotiator. She actively participated in the CRA ratings committee, contributing to the evaluation and rating of numerous Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) projects, as well as voluntary initiatives. Her experience in programmatic CDM projects also shaped CRA’s approach to rating programmatic CDM initiatives, setting standards and enhancing liquidity within the program. Additionally, until her UNFCCC nomination, Figueres served as the Vice Chair of the Carbon Rating Agency, further underlining her dedication to promoting transparency and accountability in the realm of carbon finance. Her multifaceted role within CRA and IDEAcarbon reflected her commitment to driving positive change in the climate change landscape.
This information is repurposed from the original print in MondoVisione (2010).