Building Bridges …
John’s campaign for election to the IUCN Council is based on the conviction that one of the critical needs of the environmental movement today—and one he is uniquely positioned to address—is a commitment to building bridges.
In a world in which there is so much division along political, social, and geographic lines, we need environmental decision-makers who can move across cultures with ease, and to communicate with others who—literally or figuratively—speak a different language.
We need leaders on the IUCN Council who can build bridges between the environmental sector and policymakers, law, business, finance, international organizations, and others, and to communicate with each of them in terms they can relate to.
Crucially, building bridges also means reaching out to economic actors in industries that are rarely on the same side of the table as conservationists. Because, yes, building bridges also means sitting down with our rivals and trying to find the best possible solutions under the circumstances—it may not be fun or easy, but we owe it to the biosphere.
… to the Future
John’s bicultural and bilingual background—he was raised speaking both Spanish and English at home, and had lived in 5 different countries by the time he went to university in the USA—together with his doctoral training in tropical ecology and in law, and his professional experience in academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector, have all come together and turned him into a natural bridge builder. It is his way of solving problems.
On the IUCN Council, in particular, effective decision-making requires building consensus, working across cultural and language barriers, and communicating in a way that earns both the confidence and the respect of others. The ability to bridge positions that may appear irreconcilable by working pragmatically and focusing on the interests of those involved—rather than their personalities or public pronouncements—and bringing those positions closer together through clear communication is critical. This is especially important for a USA-based Councillor.
At a time when many feel that decisions are made based on who speaks loudest, a collegial approach to working with other Councillors, using diplomatic skills, and focusing on what is best for IUCN and for its members, has never been more important.
John is committed to building bridges both within the Council and between IUCN and its key stakeholders.
