Council on Energy, Environment and Water Integrated | International | Independent
New Delhi, 15 May 2025: Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), one of Asia’s leading climate and energy think tanks, has been appointed as the South Asia Envoy to COP30, which will take place in Brasil in November this year.
As one of eight international envoys for strategic regions, Dr Ghosh will play a key role in facilitating dialogue, and ensuring that South Asian voices are strongly represented and supported at the global climate conference. Some of the other international envoys include global leaders such as Jacinda Ardern (former Prime Minister of New Zealand), Patricia Espinosa (former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC), Laurence Tubiana (France’s Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21), and Adnan Amin (first Director-General of IRENA and CEO of COP28 UAE).
Reacting to his appointment, Dr Ghosh said, "Climate disruptions are accelerating globally, driven by geopolitics, technological shifts, and looming planetary tipping points. The burdens of rising debt, devastating disasters, slowing development progress, and the urgent need for decarbonisation signal a critical need for new paradigms. At COP30, we have an opportunity to build back together: from setting targets to accelerating implementation; from top-down policies to bottom-up resilience; from centralised systems to distributed leadership; and from linear climate action models to more adaptive, co-dependent approaches. We must build bridges to integrate mitigation and adaptation efforts, co- develop technologies, foster greener industries and diversified supply chains, make financial systems sustainable, and enable diverse pathways towards jobs, growth, and sustainability.”
He further added, “COP30 must be a platform where the Global South is not only heard but where their unique forms of climate leadership are recognised and supported."
The envoys, who will serve on a voluntary and personal basis, will act as key liaisons for the flow of information and perspectives from the areas they represent, enabling faster and more effective interactions.
Full list of Special Envoys to COP30 Brasil in 2025
For media queries and interviews, contact:
Tulshe Agnihotri – [email protected]
About CEEW
The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) — a homegrown institution with headquarters in New Delhi — is among the world’s leading climate think tanks. The Council is also often ranked among the world’s best-managed and independent think tanks. It uses data, integrated analysis, and strategic outreach to explain — and change — the use, reuse, and misuse of resources. It prides itself on the independence of its high-quality research and strives to impact sustainable development at scale in India and the Global South. In over 14 years of operation, CEEW has impacted over 400 million lives and engaged with over 20 state governments. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @CEEWIndia or on LinkedIn for the latest updates.