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1956 — Present

The Journey

My life has not run straight; it has flowed like a river, through twists and turns I could not always understand as they came.
Only later did I comprehend that mud does not become a lotus on its own.
The lotus must be chosen, and tended, and grown.

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FormationDiplomacyThe ReckoningGlobal OptimismContemplation1956Born in San José,Costa Rica1988 / 89Marriage and birth ofNaima and Yihana1979, 1981Studied anthropology atSwarthmore College and LSE1994Witnessed the extinction ofthe golden toadspecies in Costa Rica1997Elected to the Executive Boardof the CDM, the globalcarbon market2007Elected to the Bureau,the governing bodyof the UNFCCC.2009Copenhagen COP 15 collapses.2010Appointed to lead the brokeninternational climate negotiations.2010Cancun COP16: trust rebuilt,one country at a time.2011Durban COP17: commitment toa universal agreement.2015Paris COP 21: 196 nations,one agreement.2013Marriage collapses underrepeated betrayal2013Warsaw COP19:recognized damages to most vulnerable.2014Lima COP20:agreement on national contributions2012Doha COP18:legal framework evolves2016Co-founded Global Optimismwith Tom Rivett-Carnac2019Started Outrage + Optimismpodcast with Tom Rivett-Carnacand Paul Dickinson2022Together with Plum Village monastics,initiated spirituality retreatsfor climate leaders worldwide2024Birth of Kailo2026The work continues.

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