Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad has an inspiring and transformative journey. Formerly a sustainability consultant for Shell, she has emerged as a prominent advocate against fossil fuel dependency, especially as Colombia prepares to host the pivotal biodiversity summit, COP16. Her advocacy began in 2009, when she left Shell in frustration, a stark contrast to her earlier belief as a hopeful 26-year-old that she could make significant change from within the oil industry.
“I thought I could make a meaningful impact on climate issues from inside an energy company, particularly since they claimed to be transitioning beyond fossil fuels,” she shared during our discussion at the Colombian embassy in London. “But I resigned the very day they chose to invest their innovation funds in fracking.”
Now, at 47, Muhamad is poised to lead COP16, where leaders from nearly 200 nations will gather in Cali, Colombia, next month. Many see her as a rising star in environmental advocacy, promoting a holistic approach that addresses both environmental issues and social justice, emphasizing the necessity for developed nations to support a just transition.
“Susana is the Frida Kahlo of environmental geopolitics,” activist Oscar Soria noted. “Similar to Kahlo, who challenged societal norms through her artistry, Muhamad presents a vision of ecological justice that reframes traditional environmentalism, reshaping conversations around climate justice and biodiversity restoration.”
Her leadership emerges as Colombia experiences a transformative political shift with its first leftist government. Engaging with NGOs, journalists, and British officials, she promotes a vision of “just transition” aimed at correcting economic and environmental disparities. While she carefully navigates rhetoric to avoid associations with more radical leftist movements, she acknowledges the importance of reaching net-zero emissions and considering its impacts on local communities.
“We must ensure that this energy transition does not adversely affect Indigenous peoples, local communities, and biodiversity,” she emphasized following COP28 in Dubai last December. “We have a responsibility to balance the opportunities this transition offers with the risks it entails, especially for future generations.”
Colombia recently became a pioneer among fossil fuel producers by calling for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. Under President Gustavo Petro’s leadership, her administration is advocating for a ban on fracking and a phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, positioning biodiversity as a foundational element for economic stability in a post-fossil fuel world. Last month, she unveiled a $40 billion investment initiative to advance this vision.
At a recent event for the nature summit at the Natural History Museum, she stressed the urgency of their mission: “As we decarbonize, we must also protect and restore nature; without it, we cannot stabilize the climate.”
With the backdrop of COP16 marked by significant challenges such as severe declines in wildlife populations due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, the summit is crucial both globally and domestically. After President Petro announced that Colombia would host COP, he and Muhamad have developed a domestic agenda focused on promoting peace, particularly in areas previously controlled by rebels. Preparations proceed despite threats from a guerrilla faction, with 12,000 military personnel deployed for security.
“It’s a difficult situation, but we view COP16 as a critical opportunity to promote peace within Colombia,” Muhamad explained.
Her role as minister encompasses numerous challenges, from tackling deforestation—where rates have recently hit a 23-year low—to managing the population of Pablo Escobar’s hippos, which have become an invasive species since his death in 1993. While she chuckles when mentioning the hippos, she quickly shifts to a serious tone about their management: “They are officially recognized as an invasive species. This administration, along with previous ones, has initiated a plan that includes euthanasia, sterilization, and relocation.”
As she steps into her role as COP president for the first time, Muhamad reflects on her history with Shell. “I believe it was greenwashing,” she confesses. “There were genuine efforts for change, but the fossil fuel industry was too entrenched. That realization ultimately pushed me into politics, where I thought I could bring about more systemic change.”
In her upcoming role at COP16, she hopes to initiate discussions that prioritize both environmental restoration and socio-economic equity, embodying the transformative change she once sought within the corporate sector.
