Kilaparti Ramakrishna is a leading figure in global environmental governance, with over three decades of experience across multilateral diplomacy, United Nations leadership, and science-based climate and ocean policy. His career spans key international institutions, including the United Nations, UNEP, and the Green Climate Fund, where he contributed to shaping policy frameworks that continue to guide global climate action and sustainable development.

A Lead Author of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Ramakrishna has played a central role in strengthening the science–policy interface, ensuring that international climate strategies are grounded in robust scientific evidence. He has also held senior leadership roles at the regional level, including Director of the UN Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia, where he advanced integrated approaches to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

His work has been instrumental in supporting the evolution of global climate governance, including contributions to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and early initiatives on forest governance that informed the creation of the UN Forum on Forests. Alongside his policy work, he has held academic appointments at Harvard Law School and the Fletcher School, reflecting his commitment to education and leadership development.

He currently serves as Director of the Marine Policy Center and Senior Advisor on Ocean and Climate Policy at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where he works to bridge ocean science and global climate negotiations, highlighting the ocean’s critical role in planetary resilience and sustainability.