Forward, Backward, Forward: Lessons and Best Practices from Thirty Years of Climate Negotiations

In this lecture, Dr. Tony La Viña highlights the role of science in negotiations about climate change on the global stage.

Antonio G. M. La Viña, JSD is a leader, teacher, thinker, lawyer, and social entrepreneur. He is currently Senior Fellow on climate change, Executive Director and Energy Collaboratory Director of Manila Observatory, and a professor of law, philosophy, political science, and governance in several universities in the Philippines, including the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Schools, Ateneo School of Government, and Ateneo Law School. He was the Chair of Forest Foundation of the Philippines and former Dean of the Ateneo School of Government.

Tony has been a teacher for 39 years, joining the Jesuit Volunteers to teach philosophy in Xavier University in Mindanao. He has been a human rights and environmental justice lawyer for 30 years, starting his law career as an advocate for indigenous peoples and local communities fighting development aggression by logging and mining companies and in some cases by the government pursuing environmentally destructive projects. He has also been a senior environmental government official, formerly a lead negotiator of the Philippines on climate change and biodiversity conventions, and has worked for several domestic and international organizations on environment, development, and governance.

Tony finished his AB Philosophy in Ateneo de Manila, his first law degree in the University of the Philippines and his masteral and doctoral degrees from Yale University. He was born and raised in Cagayan de Oro, is married, and has raised three sons.

The Magisterial Lecture series is a collection of selected talks from Ateneo classes, delivered by some of the University’s most respected faculty members. They are produced and shared for the benefit of learners everywhere.

Magisterial Lectures is an Areté Production done in partnership with the Department of Communication, Loyola Schools and the Eugenio Lopez Jr. Center for Multimedia Communication.