Pablo Suarez (
@PabloSurGames), a researcher on climate and disasters turned humanitarian worker, passed away on July 14, 2024. Pablo was an innovator, game designer, and creator of serious-yet-fun processes for collaborative learning and dialogue.
Pablo served as the Associate Director for Research and Innovation at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. His journey with the Climate Centre began in 2005 as a technical adviser, and he quickly rose to direct numerous initiatives that bridged applied knowledge with humanitarian efforts.
His roles extended to being a visiting fellow at Boston University, an honorary senior lecturer at the University College London - Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, a visiting researcher at the University of Cambridge, and an artist in residence at the National University of Singapore. His extensive collaboration with organizations like the United Nations Development Programme, the World Food Programme, the World Bank, Oxfam America, and many others showcased his dedication to global humanitarian efforts, impacting over 60 countries.
Pablo's academic credentials were as impressive as his professional accomplishments. Holding a degree in water engineering, a master’s degree in planning, and a PhD in geography, he published extensively on topics ranging from disaster risk management to the humanitarian implications of geoengineering. His ability to communicate complex ideas in an engaging and accessible manner allowed him to run participatory sessions in diverse settings, from rural Zambia to the White House, and from the Vatican to NASA.
In the realm of
#geoengineering, Pablo was a vocal advocate for ethical and human-centred approaches. He famously remarked,
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"𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦."
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He was critical of the potential for geoengineering to shift the risks of global warming from rich nations to poor ones, and he stressed the need for ethical governance and compensation mechanisms for affected communities.
𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀:
➖ Solar geoengineering in the horizon: humanitarian dimensions — 2023 [
tinyurl.com/k798y4f4]
➖ Climate engineering and human rights — 2018 [
tinyurl.com/ywzjt6ad]
➖ Geoengineering and the humanitarian challenge: What role for the most vulnerable? — 2018 [
tinyurl.com/yw3j8sw8]
➖ Geoengineering: A humanitarian concern — 2016 [
tinyurl.com/2ex5kbrp]
➖ Towards a people-centered framework for geoengineering governance: a humanitarian perspective — 2010 [
tinyurl.com/487nww42]
𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘇 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
➖
youtu.be/FOSCeAHOZns?si=uVW9…
➖
vimeo.com/34809348
His legacy is one of innovation, empathy, and a deep-seated drive to make the world a safer and more just place. Pablo Suarez leaves behind a global community of colleagues, friends, and admirers who will continue to draw inspiration from his life's work.