Posted on January, 26 2018

BERLIN - Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF's global Climate & Energy Practice and former Minister of Environment for Peru - has been awarded the prestigious Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The award is the highest recognition granted by Germany to individuals, and a symbol of recognition and gratitude for political, economic, social or intellectual achievements.  The award recognises Pulgar-Vidal's leadership in environmental management, policy and climate actions in Peru and around the world.
 
Jorg Ranau, Germany's ambassador to Peru, presented the award to Pulgar-Vidal at a special reception hed the German embassy in Peru. He praised Pulgar-Vidal for his decisive role in the design and implementation of important national policies in Peru, and for his role as President of COP 20, where he helped craft major international commitments through the global climate Paris Agreement. The accord was the culmination of more than 20 years of discussions in the UN and was agreed by 195 countries in Paris in December 2015.
 
Pulgar-Vidal said he was humbled to receive the award. ‘It was unexpected honour. I have been involved in environmental issues for the greater part of my life. During this time, we have made some progress, but not enough. So the opportunity to be involved in key opportunities – like the Paris Agreement – and in organisations committed to making our a world a better place for people and nature to live in harmony together – as WWF is – is very pleasing to me.
 
‘The award again reminded me that there are many watching us and marking our progress, helping us through funding and advocacy. So I intend to strive to increase efforts to combat the worst impacts of climate change, especially as 2018 is again a unique time for the world to step up and do more. More in terms of ambitious commitments to reduce emissions, more to increase the use of renewables, more to get out of coal, more to adapt to climate challenges, and more to get the global governance structures aligned to the Paris Agreement.

For further information, please contact: Mandy Jean Woods mwoods@wwfint.org