2021 Barbara Ward Lecture, with Rebeca Grynspan
Channel: IIED
Date: 2021-12-08

This is a edited recording of the 2021 Barbara Ward Lecture which was delivered on 6 December 2021 by Rebeca Grynspan, the secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Grynspan, also the former vice-president of Costa Rica, is an economist who has championed finance for development and women's leadership. She spoke about Costa Rica’s journey to global climate leadership, and what others could learn from the good example her country had set.

The event

The Barbara Ward Lecture series, organised by the International institute for Environment and Development (IIED), celebrates IIED's founder, Barbara Ward, a distinguished economist, journalist, and policy advisor who was among the earliest advocates of sustainable development. 

Also a renowned speaker, Ward's lectures influenced audiences around the world. Now the institute organises lectures by the current generation of outstanding women in development in honour of Ward's pioneering work and the inspiration she gave to many.

The speakers

16:54 Rebeca Grynspan is UNCTAD secretary-general 

0:41 Andrew Norton is the director of IIED
5:45 David Satterthwaite is a senior associate with IIED's Human Settlements research group and reflects on working with Barbara Ward and 50 years of sustainable development
13:21 Tara Shine is an environmental scientist and chair of IIED's board of trustees, and introduced Grynspan and led the extensive question-and-answer session.
50:50 Question-and-answer session

This video is also available in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORtA2m2WcG0

More information: https://www.iied.org/barbara-ward-lecture-2021-rebeca-grynspan

You can also subscribe to IIED's YouTube channel to join our mission in building a fairer, more sustainable world.