Waterkeeper Alliance Welcomes Former President and Constitutional Vice President of the Republic of Ecuador to Global Ambassador Program
By: Waterkeeper Alliance
Waterkeeper Alliance welcomes Dr. Rosalia Arteaga to its Global Ambassador Program, which works to support the organization’s mission to protect the universal right to clean water in communities around the world. Members of the Global Ambassador Program, launched in 2023, use their activist platforms to amplify the stories of Waterkeeper groups and the global water movement’s efforts to patrol and protect nearly six million square miles of rivers, lakes, and coastlines.
Dr. Arteaga is a leading environmental advocate and education leader across Latin America, serving as the Former President and Constitutional Vice President of the Republic of Ecuador, Former Secretary General of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, and Former Vice Minister of Culture and Minister of Education.
“Dr. Arteaga’s leadership and dedication to environmental conservation make her a powerful addition to our Global Ambassador Program,” said Marc Yaggi, CEO of Waterkeeper Alliance. “Her work to protect the Amazon and advocate for environmental education aligns perfectly with Waterkeeper Alliance’s mission to ensure clean water for all. With her passion and influence, Dr. Arteaga will help our efforts to drive bold action to protect the world’s most at-risk waterways and empower communities to defend their right to clean water.”
Named Latin American Woman of the Year in 2020 and among the 100 most influential Latin Americans on Climate Change, Dr. Arteaga has received numerous accolades for her impact as an international environmental change-maker and serves as an expert on Amazonian issues. From her work alongside Indigenous communities and environmental organizations to preserve the Amazon rainforest’s biodiversity and defend its inhabitants, to her advocacy for integrating environmental education into school curriculums, Dr. Arteaga continues to make significant contributions to environmental conservation, sustainable development, and the mobilization of youth leaders.
“Clean water is a basic human right, and it’s crucial that we protect this vital resource for future generations. Education is key to raising awareness, promoting sustainable water management, and empowering communities to fight for their right to clean water,” said Dr. Arteaga. “I’m honored to join Waterkeeper Alliance’s global movement and contribute to the mission of safeguarding this essential resource. Through water education, we can create a world where every person has access to the clean water they deserve.”
This announcement follows the recent calls by Waterkeeper Alliance for international action to protect our waterways at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5). Waterkeeper Alliance joined other global voices in a unified call for world leaders to support a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty aimed at a full phaseout of fossil fuels. Additionally, the organization urged the urgent finalization of a robust global treaty to address the plastic pollution crisis, with a focus on protecting communities and waterways most at risk from the harmful impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.