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1956 — Present

The Journey

This is not only the story of what I am doing.
It is the story of who I am becoming.
The greatest impacts of my public life are inseparable from the transformations within.

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FormationDiplomacyThe ReckoningGlobal OptimismContemplation1956Born in San José,Costa Rica1985Marriage1979, 1981Studied anthropology atSwarthmore College and LSE1988 / 89Birth of my daughtersNaima and Yihana1994Found out about the extinctionof the golden toad speciesin Costa Rica1995–2003Founded CSDA2009Copenhagen COP 15 collapses2010Appointed to lead the brokeninternational climate negotiations2010Cancun COP16: trust rebuilt,one country at a time.2011Durban COP17: commitment toa universal agreement.★2015Paris COP 21:196 nations,one agreement.2013Marriage collapsesFound Thích Nhất Hạnh2013Operation Groundswell2014Lima COP20:agreement on national contributions2012Doha COP18:legal framework evolves2016Co-founded Global Optimismwith Tom Rivett-Carnac2019Started O+O podcastwith Tom Rivett-Carnacand Paul Dickinson2022Together with Plum Village monastics,initiated spirituality retreatsfor environmental leaders worldwide2024Birth of Kailo2026The work continues.