Accelerating the shift to electric mobility: a new GEF supported Global Electric Mobility Programme - agenda for COP26 side event

Gustavo Alberto Fonseca

Dr. Fonseca is the Director of Programs at the Global Environment Facility (GEF), housed at the World Bank, where he oversees and manages a technical and administrative team in charge of programming and disbursing over $1 billion annually in grants and de-risking financing directed to projects and programs in over 150 developing countries dealing with biodiversity conservation; combating land degradation; promoting sustainable forest management and REDD+; climate change mitigation and adaptation; management of transboundary marine and freshwater resources; and phasing out harmful chemicals and mercury. He holds a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Forest Resources and Conservation, and published over 160 publications, articles and books. He received the Oliver Austin Award of the University of Florida for outstanding research in the natural sciences, the Golden Ark Award, an official order of the Dutch government, among others, including more recently the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Florida. 

2. Nigel Topping

Nigel Topping is the UN's High-Level Climate Action Champion. His aim is to ramp up climate action ahead of COP26, the 2021 UN climate conference taking place in Glasgow. Nigel Topping strengthens collaboration and drives action from investors, businesses, organizations, cities and regions on climate change and coordinates this work with governments and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He works alongside the Chilean High-Level Climate Action Champion, Gonzalo Muñoz.

Topping was most recently CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon economy. Prior to that he was executive director of the Carbon Disclosure Project, following an 18-year career in the private sector where he worked across the world in emerging markets and manufacturing.

3. Inger Andersen

Inger Andersen is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

Between 2015 and 2019, Ms. Andersen was the Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Ms. Andersen has more than 30 years of experience in international development economics, environmental sustainability, strategy and operations. She has led work on a range of issues including agriculture, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, climate change, infrastructure, energy, transport, and water resources management and hydro-diplomacy.

Live YouTube link to the virtual event will be available here 9th November 2021