Not all workplaces celebrate their employees’ first-year anniversaries, but here at OG it’s a big deal because Ana was Opportunity Green’s first hired employee! To mark the occasion, we asked Ana to reflect on the past year…

*Ana with our Project Assistant Blánaid Sheeran at the International Maritime Organization*

What drew you to work at OG?

Equity and justice in climate action has always been my main interest in my work field, and I was looking to put my skills in international climate policy and shipping decarbonisation at the service of the countries most impacted by climate change.

I was also keen to work somewhere where I could have a say in the strategy of the work, and where I could proactively work with colleagues to develop new projects, as well as the organisation itself.

A job advert for my role showed up just at the right time, and Opportunity Green (at the time of my application not even a year-old!) was the ideal place for what I was looking in my career.

What has changed since you started?

So much has changed. We went from two to ten incredible colleagues; we got an office (filled with plants, of course); we’ve developed inclusive and fair HR policies in a collaborative team effort; and, as we went along, we’ve developed our very own work culture.

*Ana being interviewed in a media training session*

On the work front, all of our projects went from being ‘potentially nice ideas on paper’ to fully fledged live projects: from our work with climate vulnerable Member States at the International Maritime Organization (IMO); the expert work of the legal team, coming up with innovative ways to tackle climate more efficiently; the recently launched SASHA Coalition; and all of our brilliant work in communications, including our very own blog!

It is quite astounding to see how fast all these projects have grown, and the colleagues carrying it out are all incredibly talented and hard-working.

What are you most proud of being involved in since you joined?

I’m not sure if proud is how I’d describe it, especially as I’m very conscious that my work in supporting the just and equitable transition is but a drop in the ocean. But certainly, the project that brings me most gratification and the one I’m most excited about is the continuous work we’ve been developing alongside ambitious climate vulnerable countries, to support their increased participation in the IMO climate meetings.

So far, we’ve provided comprehensive information briefing packs for five different IMO climate meetings to around 25 high-ambition climate vulnerable countries.

We’ve also co-hosted two events pre-IMO climate meetings (the latest of these in support of the Thai delegation to the IMO), to facilitate the networking among these countries, and information sharing – all important tools to support the participation of these countries in the IMO.

What inspires you about what you’re working on?

Climate change, and the inequity of its impacts, is the defining challenge of our generation. And no matter how big and complex the problem is, it’s important to keep in mind that every fraction of a degree matters when it comes to halting global temperature rise. This is particularly true for the small island developing states and least developed countries, who are unfairly bearing the brunt of this crisis, despite not having contributed to it.

In the face of this, there’s no option to be complacent, so motivation to keep working – no matter how small the impact of my work might be – is not hard to come by.

*Ana and the team on our volunteering day at Freightliners City Farm!*

What are you looking forward to in the coming year?

The coming year will be of paramount importance at the IMO, as we adopt the revised GHG Strategy this July and shift our focus more towards the development of the regulatory measures that will effectively ensure that the international shipping sector is able to phase out its emissions in a 1.5°C-aligned pathway, and in a way that is just and equitable to all countries.

For my work, this will mean more focused work, particularly with ambitious climate vulnerable countries, to ensure that these measures are adopted as early as possible, and designed in a manner that leaves no country behind.

Climate finance should also become an increasingly bigger focus in our work, which I’m really looking forward to, as this subject is a big passion of mine.

Inspired to come and work at Opportunity Green? Keep an eye on our vacancies page and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.