Sitara-i-Imtiaz: Pakistani American Adil Najam Appointed President of the World Wildlife Fund

Adil Najam, Dean Emeritus of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and professor of international relations and earth and environment at Boston University has been appointed President of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest conservation organization.

Najam, a globally renowned academic and policy expert, who was the inaugural dean of the Pardee School (2014–22), “has focused his research on global public policies related to environmental conservation, sustainability and human development, and climate change in the Global South,” according to a report on BU website.

Neville Isdell, the outgoing president of WWF said, “Adil Najam is an outstanding individual to take on the role of President of WWF’s International Board. He is well-known as a pioneering thinker and highly influential expert amongst global policymakers. In addition, he has a deep understanding of the WWF network, having previously served as a trustee on the International Board for eight years. With his return, I have no doubt that WWF will continue to benefit from his invaluable knowledge and experience.”

“When he arrived at BU in 1997, he designed one of the nation’s first college courses in sustainable development policy. Later, he was a lead author for the third and fourth Assessment Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),” the BU report by Marc Chalufour said.

Among the many positions he held in his long career, Najam served as vice chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Lahore. He also taught at MIT and at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

The WWF, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the most recognizable and influential conservation groups in the world. It has conservation projects in nearly 100 countries. The WWF has a nearly $1 billion budget to work on projects to protect natural resources and the biodiversity of the planet. WWF’s work is made possible through the support of nearly 6 million members and donors.

Among the projects it is involved in is the conservation of endangered species — protecting animals such as tigers, elephants, whales, and pandas, which are all threatened with extinction. To that end, the organization works on habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols, and education and awareness-raising campaigns.

Another important mission of WWF is the promotion of sustainable development, advocating for the use of renewable energy, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and the reduction of waste and pollution.

The organization works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting renewable energy, advocating for international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, and supporting efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Najam, a Pakistani American who has had a stellar academic career in his native country, is now entrusted with running this organization that has global reach and impact. Among the many positions he held in his long career, Najam served as vice chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Lahore. He also taught at MIT and at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

He was a co-author for the Third and Fourth Assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); a work for which the scientific panel was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the public understanding of climate change science.

In 2010 he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence), one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards by the President of Pakistan.