Minister Susana Muhamad Recognized as Woman of the Decade in Colombia

The Minister of the Environment, Susana Muhamad, has been recognized as ‘woman of the decade’ in Colombia by the Women’s Economic Forum (WEF). The award was obtained thanks to her leadership in environmental protection and her fight against climate change.

The multinational organization that promotes a global network of women beyond borders, barriers and prejudices, has rewarded the role of a woman who has led in one of the main challenges of Colombia and the planet.

Muhamad’s work has placed Colombia at the center of the most relevant environmental discussions worldwide, achieving significant economic resources for the reduction of deforestation, through social agreements, the fight against climate change, the protection of biodiversity and the recognition of the communities of the thirteen strategic ecoregions of the country.

In addition, the minister has managed to develop innovative tools for the environmental sector, such as the Fund for Life and the climate change roadmap.

COP16 in Cali

The environment and the fight against climate change is a key focus of President Petro’s Colombian government. Moving towards the abandonment of fossil fuels has been a controversial decision that the government has strongly defended, despite the significant benefits the country derives from exporting oil and gas.

“As humanity we have a chance: to change the perception in the system of power structures, to live with a potential of humanity that manifests itself in favor of life, therefore, the meetings between women for political and environmental leadership help us to occupy the space we deserve,” said the minister during her speech.

Another of the achievements that make the minister a “world-class environmental leader” is that Colombia will host the COP16, the most important Biodiversity Summit in the world, which will bring together delegations and high-level officials from all over the planet, who will discuss progress towards the fulfillment of the 23 biodiversity protection goals.

“We want COP16 to produce a heartbeat that goes beyond politics, a global heartbeat that puts nature and life at the center of the climate change process, and where women play a leading role,” concluded the minister during the ceremony of the Women Economic Forum.

The most valued minister

In a government with constant changes and decreasing popularity, Minister Muhamad is one of the three ministers best valued by opinion leaders in the country. Very close for years to President Gustavo Petro, she was part of the team of the current president when he was mayor of Bogota (2012-2015), as Secretary of Environment.

Susana Muhamad, 46, was born in Bogota and is a descendant of Palestinians who emigrated to Colombia. She has dedicated much of her career to environmental advocacy. From her position as minister, she has pushed for the prohibition of fracking as a method of hydrocarbon extraction, due to its harmful consequences for the environment.

In March 2023, the minister announced the increase of the reforestation goal by 187,500 hectares per year to a total of 750,000 hectares per year by 2026. This increase was almost six times more than what the previous government had proposed as a goal.