Ashden will welcome President of the Republic of Costa Rica, his Excellency Carlos Alvarado Quesada, as speaker at the 2021 Ashden Awards celebration. The event will take place at the COP26 climate summit on Thursday 4 November.
The Ashden Awards honour pioneering organisations lowering carbon emissions and building a fairer world. Nine winners from the UK and low-income countries will be announced at the awards celebration. Each one will receive grants, publicity and support to grow and replicate their innovation.
President Alvarado will be attending COP26 in Glasgow to join other world leaders in negotiations to reduce emissions and tackle the climate crisis.
His own ambitious climate plans include working towards the total decarbonisation of Costa Rica by 2050. He has also argued that high-income countries should financially support low-income nations to address climate change consequences and mitigation.
President Alvarado was elected in May 2018. He had previously served his country as Minister of Labor and Social Security, and as Minister of Human Development and Social Inclusion. He is also a professor, journalist and author of fiction.
President Alvarado said: “Costa Rica is proud to lead by example with our successful model of conservation. All the nominees to the 2021 Ashden Awards have also chosen to lead by example too. That is why, as a Costa Rican, I can relate to each one of them and am thrilled to take part in the Awards ceremony.
“We also share the conviction that sustainable development goes hand in hand with economic growth, as well as a deep commitment to decarbonization and to promote nature based solutions to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss challenges we face. For that, I do believe the great endeavour of our generation is to abolish fossil fuels.
“This month Costa Rica received the Earthshot Prize as a recognition of pioneering climate innovation. In this pivotal moment for the future of humankind it is vital we highlight trailblazing, inspiring efforts to build a better, livable world for current and future generations. That is what the Ashden Awards are about.”
Ashden CEO Harriet Lamb said: “We are so thrilled to welcome President of the Republic of Costa Rica, his Excellency Carlos Alvarado Quesada, to the 2021 Ashden Awards celebration. His passion for conservation and radical climate action is an example to all heads of state gathering at COP26 in Glasgow this November.
“Costa Rica has shown such leadership in moving towards zero carbon. We look forward to hearing from President Alvarado about how we can all build a fairer, more sustainable world.”
