On October 14, 2025, Dr. Edgar E. Gutierrez-Espeleta, Co-Chair of the Seventh Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-7) and former Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, engaged in a fruitful dialogue with the UNEP-IEMP at the invitation of Prof. Linxiu Zhang, UNEP-IEMP Director.

As a new Co-Chair of UNEP-IEMP Scientific Advisory Group, Dr. Gutierrez-Espeleta shared his wealth of experience and insights as a prominent leader in the fields of science and environmental policy on a global scale. In his remarks, he underscored the critical role that scientific research plays in shaping effective policies and outlined the various synergies needed to advance sustainability initiatives. He emphasized the importance of utilizing diverse indicators to measure progress and highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence as a transformative tool for enhancing environmental management.

The exchange prompted a series of engaging discussions among UNEP-IEMP staff and students to shared own perspectives, further enriching the conversation on the intersection of research, technology, and sustainable development. As the session concluded, Dr. Gutierrez-Espeleta encouraged the audience to remain committed to a collaborative approach in tackling environmental challenges.