When Indigenous Wisdom Shapes National Policy - Former President Juan Manuel Santos

Upon becoming President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos met with indigenous leaders who cautioned him to not only seek peace among the people of Colombia, but also with Mother Nature because she was angry for being so badly mistreated. Not only did President Santos facilitate reconciliation by ending Colombia’s more than 50-year-long civil war for which he received the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, he also became a fierce advocate for protecting the country’s biodiversity and fighting climate change through ambitious environmental policies. He established large-scale protected areas and Colombia’s unique national carbon tax. Partnering with Conservation International, he now continues this work supporting natural solutions to climate change, empowering indigenous peoples and advancing peace building.
We must now listen to the wisdom of indigenous leaders in sustaining healthy ecosystems even as many world leaders retreat from science and global collaboration. It is time to transition to a green economy - a necessity, not a luxury. The pandemic has proven that global threats have no borders. As we rebuild post COVID-19, it is not a time to build more walls, but rather a time to build international bridges and heal the wounds of humanity along with those of nature.
Speakers
Juan Manuel Santos (Speaker) Former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Philip Yun (Speaker) World Affairs and The Global Philanthropy Forum, President and CEO