The Forum pays tribute to High Level Advisor Thomas Lovejoy

The UN-Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment remembers renowned and influential conservation biologist Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, who passed away on December 25, 2021.  

 Thomas was a great friend and advocate of the UN-Science-Policy-Business Forum, having flown all the way to Nairobi, Kenya to address our community of policy makers, business leaders, scientists and civil society representatives at the Inaugural Global Session in December 2017. He was one of the Forum’s High-Level Advisor representing the strong voice of science and biodiversity when it came to shaping the discussion around our key work streams. 

 Considered as “the Godfather of biodiversity”, Thomas made invaluable and profound contributions to environmental science and policy, having held various posts in a career that spanned more than a half-century. A pioneer of modern conservation efforts, he was a passionate advocate for wildlife as well as a big thinker who proposed innovative ideas to protect the planet while serving as an advisor to multiple global leaders, the World, Bank, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Conservation International. He was most recently a Senior Fellow for biodiversity and environmental science at the United Nations Foundation and a professor of environmental science at George Mason University in Virginia.   

 Thomas is credited for coining the term “biological diversity”, developing the concept of “debt-for-nature” swap programs, and being one of the earliest to warn about the extent of species loss worldwide especially in the Amazon rainforest and elevate the issue of climate change as a global problem. He inspired the work of UNEP helping to focus the world’s attention on the link between the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.  

 “Deeply saddened by the passing of conservation pioneer Tom Lovejoy. A giant in ecology & conservation world, he inspired & taught us all. Let us honor his legacy by doubling our commitment to protect our planet & its amazing biodiversity” said UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen.