Nico Rosberg
2016 Formula 1 World Champion | Founder & CEO, Rosberg Ventures | Co-Founder, Greentech Festival | Sustainability Entrepreneur & Technology Investor | Sky Sports F1 Analyst
Carlos Alvarado Quesada
48th President of Costa Rica (2018-2022) | Professor of Practice, The Fletcher School, Tufts | TIME 100 Next | National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award
Carlos Alvarado Quesada served as the 48th President of Costa Rica from 2018 to 2022, guiding the country through a landmark climate agenda, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the legalization of same-sex marriage. Named to TIME 100 Next, winner of the National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award and the UN Champion of the Earth Award, he now teaches at The Fletcher School at Tufts University and speaks globally on democracy, sustainability, and leadership.
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Carlos Alvarado Quesada biography
Carlos Alvarado Quesada served as the 48th President of the Republic of Costa Rica from May 2018 to May 2022, leading one of the most admired small democracies in the world through four of its most consequential years: an historic climate agenda, the COVID-19 pandemic, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and sustained defense of the multilateral order at a moment when that order faced pressure from multiple directions. He took office at 38 — one of the youngest heads of state in the world at the time — after a career that spanned journalism, political science, government service, and the private sector.
As a sustainability speaker and statesman, Alvarado’s presidency became a reference point in global climate policy. His administration produced Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan, the first in the world to align fully with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and implemented it with practical results: electric vehicles became the most common new vehicles sold in Costa Rica, coffee farming was certified carbon negative, and ocean protection was expanded from 3% to 30% of the country’s exclusive economic zone. In September 2019 he accepted on behalf of Costa Rica the UN Champion of the Earth Award for Policy Leadership, presented by the United Nations Environment Programme, the highest environmental honor the UN bestows. In 2022, the National Geographic Society awarded him its Planetary Leadership Award for outstanding commitment and action toward protecting the ocean.
Alvarado’s government also oversaw one of Latin America’s most effective COVID-19 responses, deploying universal testing, contact tracing, and an early vaccination campaign that positioned Costa Rica among the best-performing countries in the region by key health metrics. His defense of democratic institutions, human rights, and press freedom during his term contributed to Costa Rica’s consistent ranking as the most stable democracy in Central America and one of the most respected in Latin America.
Fletcher School, Club de Madrid, and a Voice for Democratic Hope
Since leaving office, Alvarado has built a significant post-presidential career as an educator, writer, and advocate. He is Professor of Practice in Diplomacy and Senior Fellow in the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where he focuses on small states diplomacy and preparing the next generation of global leaders. He is a member and board director of the Club de Madrid, the world’s largest forum of former democratic heads of state and government, and a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy. In November 2019 he was named one of TIME’s 100 Next — emerging leaders shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.
He writes regularly for Project Syndicate on democracy, migration, climate policy, and multilateralism, and has spoken at the Davos World Economic Forum, major universities, and international policy forums across five continents. At a 2025 address at UConn Law School on democracy, human rights, and multilateralism, he told students “there’s a big demand for hope, but a little supply” — and set out to supply it through evidence of what is possible when political will meets institutional strength.
As a speaker, Carlos Alvarado Quesada brings to every stage what is genuinely rare in the current global moment: a former head of state who governed from values rather than fear, led consequential change against the odds, and emerged from office with both his record and his credibility intact. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Carlos Alvarado Quesada for your next event.
Carlos Alvarado Quesada Speaking Videos
Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Carlos Alvarado Quesada - Costa Rica's Decarbonization Efforts
Carlos Alvarado Quesada Keynote Topics
Costa Rica abolished its military in 1949 and has been at peace ever since. It runs on nearly 100% renewable electricity. It has one of the highest life expectancy figures in the Western Hemisphere. It is consistently ranked the most stable democracy in Central America. And under Alvarado's presidency, it became the first country in the world to produce a National Decarbonization Plan fully aligned with the Paris Agreement. In this keynote, Alvarado examines what the Costa Rica model actually is, how it was built across generations, what his administration specifically added to it, and what lessons it offers to larger, more complex countries and organizations trying to reconcile economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Not an advertisement for Costa Rica — a case study in what committed, long-horizon governance can produce.
Every political leader who has tried to advance serious climate policy has encountered the same obstacle: the costs are concentrated and immediate, the benefits are diffuse and long-term, and the opposition is always better organized than the support. Alvarado led Costa Rica through the politics of decarbonization from the inside, negotiating with industries, managing public opinion, building international coalitions, and producing measurable results. In this keynote he shares the political and strategic framework he used, the moments where the initiative nearly failed, and what he learned about how to build the public will for transformative change when the science is clear but the politics are not.
The institutions of democracy — independent courts, free press, civilian oversight of security forces, peaceful transitions of power — are easier to destroy than to build and harder to restore than to protect. Alvarado governed a country that has maintained those institutions for three-quarters of a century, and in his post-presidential work at Fletcher and through the Club de Madrid, he has studied what separates democracies that survive pressure from those that don't. In this keynote he examines the specific threats facing democratic institutions today, the patterns of institutional erosion he has observed across Latin America and beyond, and what civic leaders, business leaders, and ordinary citizens can do to strengthen the systems that protect everyone's rights and interests.
Costa Rica sits at the crossroads of Central American migration — a country that has historically been both a destination for migrants and a transit point for those heading north. Alvarado has spent his post-presidential years studying the root causes of migration in the context of climate change, institutional fragility, and economic exclusion, writing for Project Syndicate and advising at Fletcher on what evidence-based policy actually looks like. In this keynote he presents a framework for understanding migration that goes beyond the border crisis framing that dominates political discourse, examining the interplay of poverty, violence, climate displacement, and institutional failure that drives people to leave, and what the international community can and cannot realistically do about it.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Why Carlos Alvarado Quesada?
Booking Carlos Alvarado Quesada gives your audience something genuinely rare: a former head of state whose record stands up to scrutiny, whose governance was driven by values rather than political survival, and who has continued to engage with the world's hardest questions since leaving office. He governed Costa Rica through a landmark climate transformation, a pandemic, and significant social change — and left office with his credibility intact and his country better than he found it. He speaks with the authority of someone who has actually made consequential decisions under pressure, not theorized about them. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check availability and fees.
What did Carlos Alvarado Quesada accomplish as President of Costa Rica?
Alvarado's presidency produced three major categories of achievement. On climate: his administration launched Costa Rica's National Decarbonization Plan, the world's first fully Paris-aligned decarbonization roadmap, and delivered real results including carbon-negative coffee farming, rapid electric vehicle adoption, and expansion of protected ocean territory from 3% to 30%. On social policy: his government legalized same-sex marriage in 2020, fulfilling a commitment he had made as a candidate. On public health: Costa Rica's COVID-19 response was among the most effective in Latin America, built on universal testing, contact tracing, and an early vaccination rollout that protected the most vulnerable. He received the UN Champion of the Earth Award in 2019 and the National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award in 2022 for these contributions.
What is the Club de Madrid?
The Club de Madrid is the world's largest forum of former democratic heads of state and government, with over 100 members from more than 70 countries. Its mission is to strengthen democracy and democratic governance globally by drawing on the direct experience of leaders who have governed democratically and left office peacefully. Carlos Alvarado Quesada has been a member since 2022 and currently serves on the Club's Board of Directors, participating in its programs on democratic resilience, climate leadership, and the relationship between governance quality and sustainable development.
What topics does President Carlos Alvarado Quesada cover as a keynote speaker?
Carlos Alvarado Quesada speaks on climate leadership and the politics of decarbonization, the Costa Rica model and what small states can teach the world about sustainable governance, democracy under pressure and the defense of institutions, migration and root causes, multilateralism and the future of the international order, and the relationship between sustainability, social equity, and economic growth. He presents in Spanish and English and is sought after for audiences across government, business, international organizations, universities, and sustainability forums. Aurum Speakers Bureau can advise on the right topic for your event and provide full details on President Alvarado Quesada's speaking fees and availability.
How to book Carlos Alvarado Quesada as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Carlos Alvarado Quesada as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Carlos Alvarado Quesada's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Carlos Alvarado Quesada or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Carlos Alvarado Quesada speaking fee?
Carlos Alvarado Quesada speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Carlos Alvarado Quesada to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Carlos Alvarado Quesada.
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Can I book Carlos Alvarado Quesada for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Carlos Alvarado Quesada is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Carlos Alvarado Quesada for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
