Philippe Lacoste Deputy Special Representative, Paris Climate Conference
There is no other planet

Born in Strasbourg, capital city of Alsace in northern France, Philippe Lacoste, 57, has spent more than 20 years dealing with climate issues. To Lacoste, who grew up in an industrial city, the environment was not a big part of his life. But the holder of a master's degree in environmental science from the National School for Public Infrastructures (ENTPE) decided that he wanted to save the planet. "I saw the damage caused by the waste of industrial revolution," he said.

This year, Lacoste was appointed as the special representative for the climate conference (COP21) in Paris, which will be held between November 30 and December 11. It has been a daunting task for him, given that all 196 signatories in the upcoming conference are expected to come to a consensus on climate change. Nevertheless, Lacoste remains hopeful. He believes that people's mindset toward the issue has begun to change. "People are more aware of it now," he added.

October 27, 2015