Yeb Saño named Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director

MANILA, Philippines – Greenpeace Southeast Asia appointed former Philippine Climate Change Commissioner Naderev “Yeb” Saño as its executive director on Friday, January 29. 

“It’s not every day you get to welcome a veteran and high-profile climate activist to Greenpeace. That’s why we’re thrilled to appoint Yeb Saño as Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia,” the environmental watchdog announced in its website. 

Following his appointment, Saño said: “The battle cannot be won merely within the confines of the institutions we have built and the boundaries of my own country. All of us need to stand together to make it happen.”

Prior to his appointment, Saño was at the forefront of the Philippines’ battle against climate change, as a member of the Climate Change Commission.

He caught the world’s attention with his heartfelt speech as the Philippines’ chief negotiator at the 2013 United Nations Climate Summit in Warsaw. In tears, Saño called for global action on climate change after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated Tacloban City and other neighboring areas.

Saño also led climate walks here and abroad to amplify his campaign for “climate justice.”  

During the first anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda in November 2014, he embarked on a 1000-kilometer walk from Manila to Tacloban City. He also took another 1000-kilometer walk from Rome to Paris during the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, December last year. 

Before joining the CCC, Saño was the director of the Climate Change Program of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) bureau in the Philippines. WWF is an international non-governmental organization focused on environmental conservation. 

He also served as the National Director of the Earth Hour campaign in the Philippines from 2008-2010.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia Regional Board Chief Suzy Hutomo expressed confidence that Saño “will lead Greenpeace Southeast Asia to achieve our ambitious goal of protecting Southeast Asia’s natural heritage from destruction.”

“Under Yeb’s tenure, Greenpeace will continue working together with other social and environmental movements to achieve our common goal. With the support of the people, we know that we can achieve social and environmental justice,” she added.  – Rappler.com