Sam Barratt

Chief, Youth, Education & Advocacy at UN Environment

Sam Barratt is a prominent figure in environmental advocacy and education within the United Nations system. He currently serves as the Chief of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit in the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Ecosystems Division.1 3 In this role, Barratt leads various initiatives aimed at engaging young people and educational institutions in environmental sustainability efforts.

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

Co-Chair of UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI): Barratt works to promote sustainability in higher education institutions globally.1
Founder of Playing for the Planet Alliance: He established a collaboration with the video gaming industry to promote environmentally conscious behavior among gamers and encourage the industry to adopt cleaner energy practices.1
Education Initiatives: Barratt launched Earth School with TED-Ed and oversees UNEP's Youth and Education Alliance (YEA!), which involves over 2,700 universities worldwide.1
Non-formal Education Programs: He manages programs with organizations like the Girl Guides and World Scout Movement, including the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge Badge and the Earth Tribe initiative.1

Professional Background

Before his current position, Barratt held several notable roles:

Chief of Public Advocacy for UNEP, managing global campaigns on air quality, marine litter, and wildlife crime.1
Director of Communications for Avaaz, a global advocacy group with over 50 million members.1
Head of Communications for 1GOAL, working with former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on education initiatives in Africa.1
Head of Media for Oxfam, leading responses to major events and campaigns like Make Poverty History.1

Education and Personal Interests

Sam Barratt holds a degree in Politics from the University of Liverpool.1 He is an avid supporter of Watford FC and maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Twitter, where he can be followed @samdbarratt.1 2