Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has received an honourary degree from the University of Glasgow.
Her Excellency Al Mubarak, who was elected IUCN President in 2021 and is the first woman from the West Asia region to lead the organisation in its 72-year history, was conferred the title Doctor of Letters of the university in recognition of her achievements in the field of the humanities. The awarding ceremony took place on 4 July, at the Dumfries campus of the university.
In her acceptance speech, Her Excellency said: "Fellow graduates, like many of you here, Nature is my calling. In nature, I always felt a deep sense of belonging, and in this belonging, a profound sense of purpose, identity, and connectivity. I never imagined that this calling could or would define my career, yet here I am, profoundly grateful. You will all chart your unique paths of purpose and impact. But if there is one thing I can confer to you, it is to always stay true to what you believe in. Through your sincerity, determination, and humility, you will influence the thoughts, policies, and actions urgently needed to address the planetary crises of nature loss and climate change. Although we often take for granted that we are the greatest beneficiaries of nature’s bounty, we must always remember that we are also the custodians holding its future in our hands. Class of 2024, let your conscience be your guide, and your passion your companion in nurturing our beautiful yet underappreciated world."
Professor Bethan Wood, Professor of Ecology and Deputy Head of the School of Social and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Glasgow, said: “Razan puts inclusivity at the core of her action, particularly with respect to Indigenous Communities.”
“As a Professor of Ecology, I was encouraged to see on International Day for Biological
Diversity Razan emphasising the interconnectedness of biodiversity and climate change in an editorial article. Her message as the President of the IUCN is simply that everyone on the planet must be a part of the plan to achieve the actions on climate change and biodiversity loss so that we all can look forward to a sustainable and resilient future.”
