Ramón Méndez Galain is a visionary and thought leader in the field of renewable energy. As National Energy Director of his home country Uruguay, he initiated an unprecedented energy transition between 2008 and 2015, which resulted in Uruguay now obtaining 98% of the energy it needs from renewable sources – with a share of up to 40% wind energy. Ramón Méndez Galain thus proved that supplying an entire nation with clean energy is more than just a pipe dream.

He was then Uruguay’s Climate Change Secretary, chief negotiator for the Paris Climate Agreement and Director General of Planning for the government of Montevideo. At an international level, he was President of the Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for two terms and Deputy Governor for Uruguay at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Ramón Méndez Galain heads the Latin American non-profit organization “Asociación Ivy”, which works with governments, multilateral organizations and the private sector to promote sustainable change in the region.