Adam Rogers biography
updated June 2024
My career has been a journey of exploration, both in terms of my professional interests and the physical landscapes I've traversed. As an environmental journalist and communications advisor, I've had the opportunity to work in various countries, totalling more than 130, and experience their unique cultures and challenges. As the editor-in-chief of Los Angeles-based Earth News, I had the privilege of covering the landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and most of the subsequent summits of the 1990s. My book The Earth Summit, a Planetary Reckoning, documented the 1992 conference through the perspectives of youth, business, government and civil society. A related book focusing on Agenda 21 was published by the UN Environment Programme and was called Taking Action: An Environmental Guide for You and Your Community. My most recent books include The No Mammal Manifesto: Diet for a New and More Sustainable World (2019) and The Intrepid Traveler: The Ultimate Guide to Responsible, ecological, and personal-growth Travel and Tourism (3rd edition, 2018).
A sequel to the UNEP book Taking Action, Taking Action Online for the Environment, Social Justice, and Sustainable Development, was published in 2021. This publication, which includes a foreword from former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, connects the many dots in the social media universe and provides step-by-step advice on how to fundraise, build communities, and inspire action for the results we need to create the world we want in line with Agenda 2030. For more on my books, click here.
My academic journey reflected my commitment to professional development and my desire to make a meaningful contribution to global issues. I earned my BA in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University, my MA in Communication and Technology from the University of Alberta, and my MBA from the prestigious TRIUM program at New York University, the London School of Economics, and HEC Paris School of Management. These degrees equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of global issues and the skills to address them effectively, instilling in me the confidence that we all can make a difference.
I worked for the United Nations for 22 years before taking early retirement in 2018. My last post was senior advisor for South-South Cooperation with the UN Development Programme, based in NYC. Before that, I served as the Regional Representative for Europe for the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, and as coordinator of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty, based in Geneva. I also worked for 12 years as the head of communication for the United Nations Capital Development and for six years as UNDP’s regional communications advisor for Europe, also based in Geneva. I continue to support the work of the organization as a senior consulting advisor for strategic communications, with recent assignments in Kuwait, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Guinea Bissau and Cambodia.
I am now with the Doha-based Climate Action Center of Excellence. Established by and hosted at the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development, CACE is focused on advancing the goals outlined in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which aim to enhance the effectiveness of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As well, I am weaving together my love for travel and writing in a forthcoming book, Around the World in 80 Countries: A Collection of Short Stories from the Road Less Traveled. This compendium will offer readers a selection of captivating short travel stories from my numerous adventures around the world.