The inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, co-hosted by United Nations Human Rights and CU Boulder, convened thought leaders from the public, private, civic and academic communities to advance action and education about climate change as a human rights crisis.
S. James Anaya
Expert on international human rights
Distinguished Professor of international law
Former dean of Colorado Law
Jim Anaya is an internationally recognized scholar and author in the areas of international human rights and issues concerning Indigenous peoples. He served as the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples from 2008 to 2014. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Anaya has litigated major cases involving the human rights of Indigenous peoples in domestic and international tribunals.
There are groups in vulnerable situations, including Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and women and children, who are disproportionately feeling the impacts of climate change. We're making a very direct effort to include their voices by having people participate in leading roles in the summit.
Seth R. Marder
Expert in chemical and biological engineering
Director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute
As a member of the World Cultural Council, Marder merges his expertise in chemical and biological engineering with his efforts developing international goodwill. Marder is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Physical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Materials Research Society, the Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), the Optical Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In many cases, the people who are most severely impacted by climate change are not the ones whose voices are heard. In order for us as a civilization to address climate change, it is critical to really think about this in an empathetic way.
Heidi VanGenderen
Expert in environmental sustainability
Chief sustainability officer, CU Boulder
Former director, public engagement, U.S. Department of Energy
Former director, national outreach, American Council on Renewable Energy
As CU Boulder’s first chief sustainability officer, Heidi VanGenderen has years of experience developing sustainable strategies at the local, state, national and international levels, including her term as senior energy advisor for the Worldwatch Institute. VanGenderen served as Colorado’s first gubernatorial climate advisor for Gov. Bill Ritter. She staffed the Wirth Chair in Sustainability at CU Denver and served as deputy director of the Presidential Climate Action Project.
This summit is about the imperative of successfully addressing the greatest challenge humans have faced in our occupancy of the planet. The truth of the matter is we must act right here, right now. The good news is we know what we must do.
