Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces an Englishman, an Iranian, and a Swiss who were trying to preserve our world’s wetlands. It focuses on the tale of Sidney Holt, a marine scientist who dedicated his 70-year scientific career to saving whales from extinction. The book explains the skies and the momentous efforts to protect our ozone layer. It describes the story of Mostafa Tolba, the mercurial and driven leader who sought to galvanize the world to take seriously the danger posed by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)—chemical compounds that pose a major threat to our ozone layer. The book assesses Figueres’ role in building a consensus among the diplomatic community and many other stakeholders, including the corporate sector and non-governmental organizations.