UN expert is new Chair of Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission
A new Chair has been appointed to the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, bringing international strategic and diplomatic experience to the regional climate advisory body.
Mr Asif Husain-Naviatti has nearly three decades of high-level experience at the United Nations (UN) and World Bank on sustainable development and is an expert on climate governance.
The Rotherham-born scholar has worked as an intergovernmental convener, negotiator, and relationship builder, coordinating between UN member states, civil society, the private sector and other institutions, on a broad range of sustainable development issues led by governments.
He will be taking over as Chair of the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission – the largest place-based climate commission in the UK and the only one operating at a regional scale.
The independent Commission, launched in 2021, is run by a core team based at, and part-funded by, the University of Leeds, and brings together 100 individuals and sector leaders who participate voluntarily.
Everyone has a vital role to play in making this vision a reality
Mr Husain-Naviatti said:
"I am thrilled to return to my Yorkshire roots to lead this bold and forward-thinking initiative aimed at uniting the civic, private, and third sectors in the push toward achieving a climate-ready, net-zero region by 2038. This is a collective effort, and everyone has a vital role to play in making this vision a reality.
“The good news is that there is a groundswell of support for this journey – people are ready, willing, and eager to embrace the challenge. Our regional leaders are equally committed, and we are armed with a clear, evidence-based roadmap for action, outlined in our report Our Carbon Story, along with our Climate Action Plan for Yorkshire and the Humber.
“Yorkshire and the Humber, the heart of the industrial revolution, is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in driving this transformation. The region boasts a rich and diverse landscape encompassing industry, agriculture, and great natural beauty.
“The national climate challenges the UK faces are mirrored in our region, and with a population of 5.5 million – comparable to Scotland, Finland, or Norway – we are not just locally significant, but internationally relevant. Our region is central to driving the UK’s climate agenda forward.”
Parliamentary Evidence Week
Members of the Commission’s core team will be presenting their research on decarbonisation pathways and share their work with the region’s local authorities on climate adaptation planning at Westminster on 21 January, when they will be meeting MPs for Evidence Week, organised by Sense About Science.
Commissions director Rosa Foster, who heads up the University of Leeds team (which also includes Leeds Climate Commission, forerunner to the regional commission), said:
“Adaptation to climate impacts has been called the ‘Cinderella of climate change’ - overlooked and underfunded - and we want to change that. A mission-driven approach is essential to this and should be extended at the national level to ensure climate readiness for the whole country.
“The flooding we have seen recently is only going to get worse, and we must create resilience to cope with that, along with other climate impacts like extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and storms. Nature plays a vital role in that regard.”
The Commission also highlights the need for a just transition to ensure that changes to how we live are done well, and do not worsen existing inequalities or produce new ones.
This transition can be a force for positive change
This is welcomed by Asif Husain-Naviatti, who signals the opportunities for communities and workers.
“I know many fear that tackling climate change could exacerbate existing inequalities. However, I’m confident that with a thoughtful and inclusive approach, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity for all. If we get it right, everyone – especially those historically underserved – can benefit. This transition can be a force for positive change, allowing all of us to thrive in a sustainable, equitable future.”
Mr Husain-Naviatti’s international career includes being an advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He was also Secretary of the Advisory Commission on UNRWA (a commission of the UN General Assembly), and Head of Secretariat for eight years in a senior management role at the heart of the Middle East conflict situation.
His wide-ranging experience makes him perfect to take over the role of Chair of the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, says Rosa Foster:
“Asif is a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in New York, where he specialises in climate governance, so he is already a great fit for what we are doing with the climate commission. He has also got impressive experience of working on climate and environmental issues in other countries and has a noted talent for reconciling conflicting development and political objectives.
“This is a turbulent time. Given the challenges we face, not just from the physical climate impacts but economic constraints and an increasing negatively rhetoric in geopolitics, Asif is uniquely qualified to chair the Commission, and we are fortunate to have him on board.”
Asif Husain-Naviatti succeeds Liz Barber, who held the position from 2021-2024.
