Izabella Koziell

Deputy Director General
Directorate

My role at ICIMOD

…..is to make things happen. We are all aware of the numerous challenges facing the HKH and other mountain regions. ICIMOD has been tackling these challenges for several decades but as the challenges get ever more acute, so our work becomes ever more important. As Deputy Director General here at ICIMOD, I am committed to increasing the pace at which we deliver results. We have a duty to ensure that the men, women, and children of our region enjoy improved well-being in a sustainable and healthy mountain environment and that the almost 2 billion people who rely on the rivers which emanate from our region continue to benefit from them. This is an important duty and one I take very seriously.

At the heart of what we do is knowledge, and I believe that knowledge is the crucial first step in innovation and impact. Through my role, I hope to ensure an atmosphere of open exchange of learning, knowledge, and information and leverage that for innovation and clear impact.

Short profile for introduction purposes

Izabella Koziell

Q:

How do you protect the pulse of the planet?

A:

I protect the pulse of the planet through all my work at ICIMOD but perhaps most visibly through my work raising global awareness of the HKH region. This region supports vast populations for whom we are committed to deliver new solutions and new investment. These are meant to help the pulse to be as strong as it can be and for it to be recognized for the vital function it serves. What happens here in the HKH matters to the rest of the world.

Q:

What is your favorite part of the work you do at ICIMOD?

A:

I have many favourites but will mention just two here.

The first is that I am fortunate to work with some inspiring people. They are a diverse team of true professionals.  And I am referring here not just to the people who work directly at ICIMOD, but the people within the eight governments and numerous other organisations with whom we work.

The second is that I feel strongly that my work here helps make a difference to the mountain peoples’ lives and livelihoods.

Q:

What are you passionate about?

A:

A lot. I’ve worked across the African and South Asian regions and lived in Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya and Tanzania, and through all the roles I’ve played, I’ve been able to fulfill my passion in making a difference to people’s lives.  Outside of work, I love hiking and cycling, growing vegetables (we have a large garden here in Nepal), and of course my children.

Q:

Your qualifications

A:

As I have got older this list has got longer so I will try and summarise!

I’ve worked for more than 30 years at the juncture of climate, environment, and development with CGIAR, FCDO (when it was DFID), the International Institute for Environment and Development and the Lutheran World Service. During this time, I’ve held numerous leadership positions in the UK, Africa and South Asia on policy, programs and research management.

My last position was as a Director of the Water, Land and Ecosystems Program based at the International Water Management Institute’s (IWMI) headquarters in Sri Lanka, where I led a global research for development program connecting 11 CGIAR centres, FAO and the RUAF foundation.

珠峰上的垃圾堆。在今年的#世界环境日,是时候纠正我们的行为了

#塑战速决 (#BeatPlasticPollution) –今年世界环境日的三项行动 似乎没有任何地方可以免受塑料污染浪潮的影响:即使是地球之巅。上周在当地社区、登山者和政要前往纪念珠峰人类首登 70 周年时,ICIMOD 发起了我们新的 #拯救我们的雪(#SaveOurSnow)活动——一段视频显示被留在珠峰(南坡)大本营的堆积如山的塑料制品和其他垃圾的消息迅速传播开来。 但我们这代人可以扭转塑料潮流吗?随着谈判代表离开巴黎,同意起草一份具有国际法律约束力的条约草案以终结塑料污染,而在设立世界环境日的50周年呼吁采取集体行动来抵制它,有充分的理由充满希望。 同样重要的是,我们有充分的理由采取行动:塑料工业不仅是世界上增长最快的工业温室气体来源,而且塑料废物极大地加剧了兴都库什-喜马拉雅地区现有的气候变化、生物多样性丧失和污染等问题,ICIMOD 的 南亚网络开发和环境经济学(South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics ,简称SANDEE)。原因如下: 气候:固体废物——其中大部分是塑料——堵塞了排水系统,并增加了破坏性洪水,即由全球变暖引发的更频繁且更强烈的降雨事件引发的洪水。 生物多样性:塑料垃圾可能需要数百年才能分解,它们堵塞水道,其中的有害化学物质渗入土壤和水中,影响陆地和水生生物、生态系统和人类健康。 ...