“It’s time for all leaders – regardless of gender – to do their part and make the political decisions necessary to reflect the equality we must see globally. After all, we can’t change the world by excluding 50 per cent of its people. Women of the world can and must be the catalyzers of solutions that we need to create jobs, build healthier and safer communities, accelerate sustainability and achieve fair and just prosperity for all.
Ambassador Patricia Espinosa is the CEO and founding partner of onepoint5 Consultancy, which supports public and private entities in aligning their strategies with the Paris Agreement to advance a sustainable, low-carbon future.
She has over 40 years of experience in high-level diplomacy, multilateral negotiations, and international relations, with expertise in sustainability, climate change, green growth, environmental governance, gender equality, and human rights.
As Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), she led the organization’s shift toward full implementation of the Paris Agreement. She oversaw the relocation of COP25 from Chile to Spain within two weeks and ensured continuity of the UNFCCC’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, she presided over COP16, resulting in the adoption of the Cancún Agreements. She also managed bilateral relations with the United States and organized the first G20 Summit held in an emerging economy.
She served as Ambassador of Mexico to Germany, where she strengthened bilateral relations and increased German investment and trade. Previously, as Ambassador to Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the UN Organizations in Vienna, she represented Mexico in institutions such as the IAEA, UNIDO, and the UNODC.
Early in her career, she represented Mexico at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and contributed to negotiations on the Beijing Platform for Action. She later presided over the Committee.
Ambassador Espinosa has received numerous international awards and honors, speaks four languages, and currently serves on several advisory and governance boards in the fields of sustainability, development, and global cooperation.