Climate Action Commission

The Commission’s vision is a world in which global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and society is adapting to manage climate risks in ways that enhance socio-ecological resilience, are nature positive, and promote just outcomes for all.

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About the CAC

The Climate Action Commission (CAC) is the Union’s newest Commission, previously called the Climate Crisis Commission, it established at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille with an Interim Chair and Steering Committee appointed during 2022. The Commission was renamed as the Climate Action Commission (CAC) at the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi

The mission of CAC will be to promote appropriate, effective, just, and nature-positive solutions to the climate crisis that are based on the best available scientific evidence from all reputable international bodies and from indigenous knowledge systems.

CAC mandate 2026 - 2029

Our Mission

To have a world where humans and nature thrive together, the IUCN CAC promotes appropriate, effective, just and nature positive solutions to the climate crisis emergency that are based on the best available scientific evidence and learnings from all reputable international bodies and from indigenous knowledge systems. The IUCN CAC will mobilize and coordinate the Union’s efforts by engaging with Regional and National IUCN Committees, Members, and Indigenous Peoples; and by promoting productive and constructive partnerships.

Our Vision

The vision of the IUCN Climate Action Commission is a world in which global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and society is adapting to manage climate risks in ways that enhance socio-ecological resilience, are nature positive, and promote just outcomes for all.

CAC Leadership

Dr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Chair

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal has been appointed by the IUCN Council as the Chair of IUCN’s recently established Climate Action Commission (CAC). IUCN Members decided to create the new expert Commission at the last IUCN Congress in Marseille, to mobilise and coordinate efforts to address climate change undertaken across the Union.

Manuel Pulgar Vidal previously served as Minister of the Environment of Peru (2011 to 2016) and as President of the Twentieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP20 in 2014. He has been recognised for his contributions to the Paris Agreement by the governments of France, Germany and Spain. He is currently global leader of Climate and Energy at IUCN Member organisation WWF.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal has been appointed by the IUCN Council as the Chair of IUCN’s recently established Climate Action Commission (CAC). IUCN Members decided to create the new expert Commission at the ...

As the sheer scale of the climate crisis comes into focus, so does the need to dramatically escalate our responses to it. The new Climate Action Commission seeks to harness IUCN’s unique global network and range of expertise to addressing the climate emergency and the intertwined crisis of nature loss by promoting convergence of our collective objectives and with concrete actions. I am delighted to take on the role of leading this effort.

Dr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Chair

Dr Mina ESTEGHAMAT

Mina Esteghamat, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist and conservation specialist with over 15 years of experience in ecosystem-based natural resource management, biodiversity governance, and participatory conservation. She currently serves as a Visiting Research Associate and Lecturer in the Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics at the University of Guelph, Canada, and is the Managing Director of the Center for Conservation and Development of Sustainable Ecosystems (ZIPAK) in Iran. Her work bridges science, policy, and community-led action, focusing on biocultural diversity, sustainable livelihoods, ecosystem-based approaches, and nature-based solutions aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Mina has collaborated with leading international organizations, including IUCN, FAO, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCCD, and serves as an Expert Member of the IUCN Green List EAGL, Member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), and Steering Committee Member of the Climate Crisis Commission (CCC), contributing to global initiatives on Indigenous- and community-led conservation. She has managed and consulted on diverse conservation projects, including restoring customary water systems, protecting wetlands, nominating biosphere reserves, and evaluating protected area governance.

Holding a Ph.D. in Environmental Science – Agroforestry and an M.Sc. in Natural Resources Management – Forestry and Forest Ecology, Mina combines academic expertise with hands-on leadership to advance integrated approaches to conservation and sustainability worldwide. She has delivered invited lectures, workshops, and presentations at leading universities and international forums, sharing insights on biodiversity, climate-resilient agroforestry, participatory governance, and equitable conservation practices.

Mina Esteghamat, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist and conservation specialist with over 15 years of experience in ecosystem-based natural resource management, biodiversity governance, and ...