Call for young leaders of the future to have courage, empathy and love.
The President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, called for all countries to go further in addressing the global climate crisis, and to avoid climate setbacks due to Covid-19, as he gave the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Annual Lecture yesterday (Monday 23 November).
The IDS Annual lecture ‘Building back better from Covid-19 with environmental sustainability and inclusion: what must development practitioners and young leaders do’ included President Carlos Alvarado Quesada’s own journey to political leadership and outlined his belief that love and empathy are critical to delivering positive change in a profession that is “hard on the body, on the mind and on the soul”.
On the vital COP26 climate negotiations next year, the President warned that for emerging and poorer economies to meet carbon emission targets there must be financial support. Otherwise, these countries will be unable to prioritise action on climate change and will focus on economic growth and job creation.
He struck a positive note with regards to the US, saying he would watch closely how the new Joe Biden administration would implement its climate policies. To other leaders he said: “Global co-operation and multilateralism is the only way round…We need to work together as a team, as a planet.”
The event was chaired by Professor Melissa Leach, Director, Institute of Development Studies, who said: “As we seek to build back better through the global pandemic, we need exceptional leadership and to share understanding from proven approaches. This is why it’s so important we hear from IDS alum President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica who is leading the way on clean and green development through pioneering policies towards sustainability, growth and social inclusion.”
Farhana Yamin, a leading scholar-activist on climate change led the discussion after the lecture with President Carlos Alvarado Quesada. She has advised many small island states and vulnerable countries, such as Costa Rica, in climate negotiations.
The IDS Annual Lecture is available to view online via the IDS website
Notes to Editors
- Carlos Alvarado Quesada, studied at the Institute of Development Studies, based in Sussex, and graduated in 2009 with a Master’s degree in Development Studies, is well-known for his trailblazing policies for environmental sustainability. Last year, he was named in the Times 100 Next list as a rising star of politics and Costa Rica was awarded the UN Champions of the Earth award
- The 2020 IDS Annual Lecture is the fifth since it was established in 2016. It convenes the most exciting thinkers on international development with the aim of developing thinking around the most pressing global challenges of our time.
- The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) delivers world-class research, learning and teaching that transforms the knowledge, action and leadership needed for more equitable and sustainable development globally. See ids.ac.uk for more information.
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