Sustainable Edge: Sustainability, leadership, and competitiveness in a fragmented world with Iván Duque, former President of Colombia

What does it take to lead on climate in a world shaped by distrust, geopolitics, and competing priorities? In this episode, former Colombian President Iván Duque shares how sustainability can be positioned not as a cost, but as a driver of competitiveness, and why leadership matters more than ever in turning ambition into action.

In this episode of Sustainable Edge

Host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Iván Duque, former President of Colombia, to explore what sustainability leadership looks like at the highest level of government.

During his presidency, Duque led one of Latin America’s most ambitious climate agendas, balancing economic growth, peacebuilding, and environmental protection. Under his leadership, Colombia expanded protected areas to cover more than a third of its territory and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030 .

Today, as global cooperation weakens and political landscapes become more fragmented, the question is no longer just what needs to be done, but how to move forward in a world where trust is declining and priorities are shifting.

Learn about:

• Sustainability as competitiveness Why climate ambition can strengthen economic positioning rather than weaken it
• Leading through uncertainty What it takes to advance climate action in a world of declining trust and geopolitical fragmentation
• The role of middle powers How countries like Colombia can shape global cooperation even without the largest economies leading
• From ambition to implementation What enabled Colombia to pass climate legislation and scale environmental protection at speed
• Markets and capital flows Why unlocking private finance and market mechanisms is critical for global climate progress
• Bridging polarization How reframing sustainability conversations can create alignment across political and ideological divides
• Long term leadership Why sustainability must be embedded into decision making as a core principle of governance and business

Beyond politicsBeyond his work in policy and sustainability, Iván Duque is also known for an unexpected passion: DJing. What started as a personal interest has become a way to connect with audiences in a completely different setting.Read more
About Iván Duque

Iván Duque is the former President of Colombia and a global advocate for climate action and sustainable development. During his presidency, he led efforts to expand environmental protection, implement a national climate strategy, and position Colombia as a leader in biodiversity conservation. He currently serves as a trustee of the Science Based Targets initiative and holds advisory roles across leading global sustainability organisations, continuing to shape the conversation on climate, policy, and economic development .