Head of Climate Transparency & Pathways
CARBON DIOXIDE
↗ 412 parts per million
Masters in International Relations
London, UK
Class of 2010
linkedin.com/in/jcseghers
JC Seghers
GLOBAL TEMPERATURE
↗ 1.05 ºC since 1880
ARCTIC ICE MINIMUM
↘ 12.8 % per decade
ICE SHEETS
↘ 413 gigatonnes per year
The Under2 Coalition is striv-
ing to keep global temperature
rises well under 2°C of warm-
ing. It’s one of the most ambi-
tious live projects in climate
change, and the day-to-day
concern of environmental con-
sultant JC Seghers, who works
with governments around the
world to better measure, track,
and reduce their emissions.
Can humankind get the job
done by 2050? He says (a cau-
tious) yes.
Why environmental policy, JC?
JC SEGHERS
I was initially attracted to working in European policy—I was fascinat-
ed by the European Union. At the time of my first traineeship at the
EU delegation in Vienna, the economic and environmental depart-
ments were one, so my role took on an environmental stamp. I didn’t
anticipate how relevant it was going to be. I always wanted to have a
career with a purpose, and at the time that was through getting in-
volved in the European institutions. Now, it’s through sustainability
and climate change.
H
You’re currently working on the Under2 Coalition—tell us about that.
JCS
The Under2 Coalition is the largest network of states and regions com-
mitting to a very ambitious 2050 climate target. External researchers
have called it the initiative with the largest emission reduction potential
in the world.
HULT
SEA LEVEL
↗ 3.3 millimeters per year
Source: NASA
18
Changing Planet
Changing Planet
19