Ovais
Sarmad
Vice-Chair, GHG Protocol Steering Committee
For six years the second-highest official of UN Climate Change, at Assistant Secretary-General level. Ovais Sarmad helped run the secretariat through five COPs, from Bonn to Sharm el-Sheikh, and was deeply involved in completing the Paris Agreement rulebook, finalising Article 6, and establishing the Loss and Damage Fund.
Ovais Sarmad is one of India's most senior figures in international climate governance. On 15 May 2017, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed him Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, after consultation with the Conference of the Parties through its Bureau. He succeeded Richard Kinley of Canada.
He brought to the post nearly three decades at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where he rose from Chief of Budget to Chief of Staff to the Director General, helped create IOM's Ethics and Conduct Office, and was a key negotiator of the agreement that brought IOM into the United Nations system.
Since leaving the UN in 2023, he has focused on accelerating sustainable development, contributing to public policy, and empowering youth through education. He is the inaugural Vice-Chair of the GHG Protocol Steering Committee, which guides the world's most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards, and advises companies on climate strategy.
He describes himself as a "congenital optimist", doing his part for a sustainable planet.
Running the Secretariat Behind the World's Climate Negotiations
What the Deputy Executive Secretary does
The UNFCCC secretariat supports the 198 Parties to the Convention and organises the annual Conference of the Parties (COP), where the world negotiates its response to climate change.
Joining on 1 September 2017, Sarmad served as the secretariat's second-in-command under Executive Secretaries Patricia Espinosa and Simon Stiell.
His responsibilities
- Supporting the Executive Secretary in managing the secretariat and its staff.
- Advising on intergovernmental affairs and the strategic planning of the UNFCCC process.
- Oversight of secretariat operations, covering human and financial resources and organisational development.
- Representing UN Climate Change at regional climate weeks, adaptation forums, and global dialogues.
Five COPs, Three Landmark Outcomes
Fiji's presidency, hosted in Bonn
The first COP chaired by a Pacific island state, with the conference hosted at the secretariat's home in Bonn.
The Paris Agreement rulebook
Countries adopted the Katowice Climate Package, the detailed guidelines for putting the Paris Agreement into practice.
Chile's presidency, hosted in Madrid
Relocated to Madrid at short notice, with talks on carbon market rules left unresolved.
Article 6 finalised
Postponed a year by the pandemic, Glasgow completed the Paris rulebook, including rules for international carbon markets under Article 6.
Loss and Damage Fund
Countries agreed to establish a dedicated fund to help developing nations cope with climate impacts.
COP outcomes describe decisions adopted by the Parties. His personal involvement is as reported by GHG Protocol and other announcements of his later appointments.
From Financial Management to Global Governance
United Nations & IOM
Deputy Executive Secretary (ASG)
Appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Involved in negotiations from COP23 to COP27.
Chief of Staff to the Director General
Instrumental in establishing IOM's Ethics and Conduct Office, and a key team member negotiating the agreement that brought IOM into the United Nations system.
Senior management and field roles
Chief of Budget, Director of Resource Management, Director of the Global Administrative Centre, and Chief of Mission to the Philippines.
Financial management
Qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in London.
Since the UN
Vice-Chair, Steering Committee
Inaugural Vice-Chair alongside Chair Geraldine Matchett, providing strategic guidance on the goals and direction of GHG Protocol and oversight of its standard-setting procedures.
Advisory Board Member
Advising the materials transformation technology company on sustainable innovation.
Advisor, Sustainability & Climate Strategy
Guiding the pharmaceutical company's environmental strategy and climate action.
Advisory Board Member
Supporting a platform that helps individuals and businesses take climate action.
Chief Climate Advisor
Bringing global climate governance experience to Earth5R's sustainability work.
His Point of View: Optimism Backed by Ambition and Accountability
Political Leadership for Success at COP26
A new enthusiasm and a new momentum around international climate action.
Read on UNFCCC ↗Progress at the May–June 2021 session left the world well positioned for success in Glasgow, but only if political will and leadership closed the remaining gaps. He saw momentum not felt since the Paris Agreement was adopted, reflected in the private sector's rush to join the Race to Zero campaign.
- Set out four elements for success at COP26, starting with wrapping up outstanding negotiations.
- Called for higher ambition on emissions cuts, adaptation, and climate finance to close the gap between expectations and commitments.
- Urged re-engagement with civil society and non-Party stakeholders in a shared purpose.
Credible Net Zero, Inclusive Multilateralism
If you cannot set a credible course for net zero … you should not be in business.
Read the discussion ↗Business must show credible transition plans with near-term targets across all operations. Governments cannot deliver the transformation alone, so multilateralism must be inclusive, giving businesses, academics, young people, and civil society an active role on the path to carbon neutrality.
- Argued that delivering climate finance at scale requires a structural transformation of the financial system.
- Highlighted COP27's agreement on a dedicated Loss and Damage Fund for developing countries.
- Remained hopeful: young people are pushing for action, renewables are expanding, and climate literacy is rising.
Ambition and Resilience
Nothing less than a full transformation of the global economy.
Read on UNFCCC ↗Current national climate plans were putting the world on course for around 3°C of warming, so ambition had to rise sharply. Speaking in the Asia-Pacific region in 2019, he paired that warning with a call to build resilience against the extreme weather already hitting vulnerable communities.
- At Asia-Pacific Climate Week, said only a full shift of the global economy towards low carbon could avoid the worst impacts.
- At Korea Global Adaptation Week, in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, urged countries to scale up adaptation and resilience efforts.
- Stressed access to funding for effective adaptation.
Ovais Sarmad on Climate, Migration, and Multilateralism
Learning Journey of Multilateralism, Migration, and Climate Change
His TEDxYouth@JPIS talk on a career spanning multilateralism, migration, and climate change. (TEDx Talks)
Watch on YouTube ↗
Transformative Decarbonisation through the UN Sustainable Development Goals
His TEDxKanke talk on decarbonisation through the Sustainable Development Goals. (TEDx Talks)
Watch on YouTube ↗
Education City Speaker Series
Ovais Sarmad in Qatar Foundation's Education City Speaker Series. (Qatar Foundation)
Watch on YouTube ↗His Work, in the Words of the Institutions
Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
The UN Secretary-General's announcement of his appointment.
Read on UN.org ↗Inaugural Chair and Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee
GHG Protocol's announcement of his appointment as Vice-Chair.
Read on GHG Protocol ↗Political Leadership Is Needed for Success at COP26
His four elements for a successful Glasgow conference.
Read on UNFCCC ↗Discussion with Ovais Sarmad
On credible net zero plans, climate finance, and inclusive multilateralism.
Read on Capgemini ↗UN Sustainable Development Panelist Profile
His official UN biography as Deputy Executive Secretary.
Read on UN SDGs ↗Joins STEER World Advisory Board
Announcement of his advisory role in sustainable materials innovation.
Read on Business Standard ↗
From Global Negotiations to Local Action
As Chief Climate Advisor, Ovais Sarmad brings Earth5R the perspective of someone who helped run the machinery of global climate negotiations, from the Paris rulebook to the Loss and Damage Fund.
His emphasis on accountability, youth engagement, and turning commitments into measurable action aligns directly with Earth5R's citizen-led, data-driven approach to sustainability.
About Ovais Sarmad
Who is Ovais Sarmad?
Ovais Sarmad is an Indian international civil servant and climate policy leader. He served as Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Assistant Secretary-General level from 2017 to 2023, after 27 years at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where his roles included Chief of Staff to the Director General. He is the inaugural Vice-Chair of the GHG Protocol Steering Committee and Chief Climate Advisor to Earth5R.
What did Ovais Sarmad do as Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC?
He supported the Executive Secretary in managing the UN Climate Change secretariat and its staff, advised on intergovernmental affairs and the strategic planning of the UNFCCC process, and oversaw the secretariat's operations, including human and financial resources and organisational development. He was appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 15 May 2017, after consultation with the Conference of the Parties through its Bureau, succeeding Richard Kinley of Canada.
Which COPs was Ovais Sarmad involved in?
He was involved in the UN climate negotiations from COP23 in Bonn (2017) through COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh (2022). During this period he was deeply involved in completing the Paris Agreement implementation guidelines, finalising Article 6 at COP26 in Glasgow, and establishing the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27.
What is the GHG Protocol Steering Committee?
The Steering Committee, established in 2024, provides strategic guidance on the goals and direction of GHG Protocol, the world's most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards, and ensures adherence to standard development and revision procedures. Ovais Sarmad was appointed its inaugural Vice-Chair in June 2024, alongside Chair Geraldine Matchett.
What was Ovais Sarmad's career before the UNFCCC?
After an early career in financial management in the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom, he joined the International Organization for Migration in Geneva in 1990. He served as Chief of Budget, Director of Resource Management, Director of the Global Administrative Centre, Chief of Mission to the Philippines, and Chief of Staff to the Director General. He was instrumental in establishing IOM's Ethics and Conduct Office and was a key team member negotiating the agreement that brought IOM into the United Nations system.
What is Ovais Sarmad's educational background?
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, and is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), qualified through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in London.
What is Ovais Sarmad's role at Earth5R?
He is Chief Climate Advisor to Earth5R, bringing his experience of global climate governance, multilateral negotiations, and institutional leadership to Earth5R's sustainability and climate action work.