Inside the Mind of a Climate Diplomat - Interview with Sara Ahmed Alliusie Alhilali
We’re delighted to present a conversation with the inspiring Sara Ahmed Alliusie Alhilali, an influential figure in corporate sustainability, government policy, and high-stakes climate negotiations. Sara’s global journey, from launching citywide initiatives in Dubai to representing the UAE at COP28, speaks to her dedication and passion for environmental solutions. In this two-part blog series, we’ll dive deep into her professional evolution, uncover what it’s like inside pivotal climate negotiations, and explore the human side of policymaking. We hope you’ll find Sara’s insights both thought-provoking and practical as you navigate your career journey in sustainability!
PART 1: A Career from Corporate Sustainability to Global Negotiations
Q1. Your career has taken you into key global climate negotiations, including your role with the COP28 presidency. Can you walk us through your professional journey?
I studied Mathematics and Languages at UCL, followed by an MBA and a backpacking stint across Southeast Asia, before beginning my career in the corporate world. My first role was at Ernst & Young in London, where I worked across industries in consulting. At the time, I didn’t have a specific path in mind—I just knew I wanted to work with intelligent people, tackle complex problems, and contribute to meaningful work. As I progressed in my role, I gravitated toward public sector clients, particularly the NHS, because it felt the most fulfilling and impactful, allowing me to see tangible results in people’s lives.
I hadn’t found my focus at that time—until a seemingly small moment in 2016 changed everything. During a picnic in London, my best friend called me out—not just for buying flavored sparkling water, but for the plastic bottle it came in. What started as a conversation about health quickly became a realisation about conscious consumerism. In that moment, I made a personal commitment—not just to live more sustainably, but to dedicate my career to driving real change for the planet.
Soon after, I was headhunted back to Dubai to launch Emaar’s first corporate accelerator, e25, where I pitched a number of sustainable startups; from hydroponic farms to online sustainable marketplaces. My role then evolved into leading sustainability for Emaar Hospitality (Address Hotels, ROVE, Vida, Armani), where I developed their start to end sustainability strategies - from revamping their waste management systems, to creating marketing campaigns for guest awareness, to training all staff, to securing Green Key certification for properties. I also led Emaar’s CSR programs, where I created large-scale community initiatives such as assembling 10,000 Ramadan packages for construction workers with EMAAR employees. It was a lot of hands-on work which felt tangible and fulfilling.
While I loved working in corporate sustainability, I began to reflect—if I wanted to create greater systemic change, maybe the right move was to go into policymaking. Instead of managing sustainability for 15 hotels, what if I could shape policies for all 850+ hotels in Dubai? That question led me to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), where I spearheaded sustainability projects for the tourism sector. I led key projects such as the Hotel Carbon Calculator and Dubai Can, a citywide initiative under HH Sheikh Hamdan to reduce single-use plastic bottle consumption. It felt like fate—what started as a small moment at a Tesco checkout counter had evolved into installing filtered water stations across Emaar offices and hotels, and then, ultimately, leading a city-wide movement.
I loved my role and the environment at DET, but after several years of intense work, I decided to take a sabbatical to travel through South America. Growing up in the UAE, I had little exposure to untouched nature, which led me to question: How can I work to protect the environment if I haven’t truly experienced it myself?
Over eight months of solo backpacking, I immersed myself in new landscapes, cultures, and ways of living. I explored the Galápagos Islands, witnessing its breathtaking indigenous wildlife, survived a hurricane in Mexico, immersed myself in multiple yoga and meditation courses, hiked through Colombian jungles and Guatemalan volcanoes, lived in communities in Nicaragua and learned Spanish, navigating through Latin America with more ease. It was one of the most formative and exhilarating periods of my life—nothing teaches you more than exposure to different cultures and living on a shoestring budget. Through it all, I gained a deeper perspective on consumption, sustainability, and human connection—not just as ideas, but as lived experiences that fundamentally reshaped my understanding of the world.
At its core, the most systemic solution to the environmental crisis isn’t just policy or technology—it’s sustainable change from within.
Then came the next big decision: Machu Picchu and Patagonia, or COP27? I chose the latter.
During this time, I was approached to join the COP28 team as a Senior Negotiator for the UAE, focusing on Adaptation. Being part of high-level global climate negotiations was eye-opening—it made me realize that every player in the climate space—corporates, NGOs, governments—plays a role in a complex interconnected web.
Previously, I had constantly chased the answer to the question posed by Effective Altruism: What role should I play to maximize my altruistic impact? (Fun fact: I received one-on-one advice from an Oxford researcher through 80,000 Hours. Given my mathematical background, their recommendation for my skillset in 2016 was to focus on AI risk policy...)
However, I’ve always been drawn to deeper life questions—what it means to live with purpose, how to create meaningful impact, and how philosophy, culture and the arts shape the way we navigate the world. This curiosity led me to explore Stoicism, take a course with The School of Life, and experience Vipassana—10 days of silent meditation. At 21, I became a certified yoga teacher, and later trained as a life coach with a focus on Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP).
Music and movement are integral to my journey—I play multiple instruments and dance every day since I was 4 years old. These expressions ground me in presence and creativity. Each of these pursuits—whether intellectual, spiritual, or artistic—reflect my constant pursuit of growth and my commitment to becoming the best version of myself.
I truly believe that true impact starts from within, and hence, during COP28, I came to a realization: Environmental issues are not just technical or economic challenges—they stem from something much deeper. While technology and policy play a crucial role, I believe we are moving in a concerning direction, one where we are increasingly disconnected from nature, ourselves and each other. Our addiction to smartphones and social media is having profound psychological effects; fueling distraction and disconnection. If people were more in tune with themselves and slowed down, we may naturally consume less, but also more consciously, making choices that are not only sustainable for the planet but also for our own well-being.
This led me to expand my career beyond policy into personal development, coaching, and creative expression—particularly mentoring young women and exploring mediums like dance and music that help people reconnect with their bodies, emotions, and inner strength. At its core, the most systemic solution to the environmental crisis isn’t just policy or technology—it’s sustainable change from within. When people cultivate self-awareness and a deeper connection to themselves, they naturally make more conscious, responsible choices, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual.
Q2. What motivated you to pursue a career in climate diplomacy, and was there a defining moment that solidified your commitment to this work?
My motivation to pursue a career in climate diplomacy comes from a deep sense of responsibility to protect our planet and its people. I was particularly drawn to how international governments collaborate to tackle shared challenges, but above all, my greatest motivation was the desire to directly support and serve my country, the UAE.
A defining moment in my journey was receiving the First Class Order of Zayed II from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. Named after the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this prestigious honor is one of the nation’s highest civil awards, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the country.
For me, it was more than just the award—it was a powerful affirmation of the dedication, sacrifice, and relentless effort poured into this work. It’s the equivalent of being knighted, a recognition that came to reward our the commitment; the late nights, last-minute missions, and the ability to pivot our lives at a moment’s notice. The role was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my career. Even now, this recognition still feels surreal, but it serves as a reminder of the impact we made and the mission we carried forward.
Q3. Can you describe what a typical day in your role looked like? What were the key responsibilities you managed, and what were the most pressing challenges you encountered?
There was no such thing as a typical day—it was probably the most varied job I’ve ever had, requiring a high degree of flexibility.
A day in the office started with team briefings on the latest negotiation developments, followed by a whirlwind of bilateral and multilateral discussions with other delegations. Each day was packed with technical exchanges with colleagues from different countries, strategic meetings with fellow negotiators, drafting key notes for leadership speeches, and an overwhelming amount of reading. I had to dive into past agreements, news updates, historical articles, and previous negotiation notes—it felt like an intense crash course blending history, economics, geopolitics, mathematics, and English literature.
For me, the biggest daily challenge was managing and making sense of the constant flood of information and human beings we spoke to. With over 190 parties involved, multiple agenda items, and countless interdependencies across negotiations, it was a complex puzzle to untangle.
As the host country, the most delicate task was striking a balance between national interests and global ambition to reach consensus. Many negotiations felt like walking a tightrope—pushing for ambitious climate commitments while securing buy-in from all parties, particularly when climate finance was on the table.
Q4. Your career has taken you to some of the highest levels of climate diplomacy, including your role with the COP28 presidency. What was it like being inside those negotiations?
Let me set the scene. The negotiation rooms are formal, structured, and intense. Around 200 people sit behind their laptops, each with their country’s “flag” (name tag) in front of them, representing national positions in real time. Seating is carefully arranged according to UN protocol, usually grouped by country alliances. At the front of the room, large screens project live edits to documents—every word debated, bracket by bracket, line by line.
Some moments are highly technical, with quiet but intense focus as delegates dissect complex policy language. Others are high-stakes and emotional, where voices are raised, tensions escalate, and entire agreements hang in the balance over a single phrase.
Leading the discussions, UNFCCC co-facilitators and moderators ensure order. Countries raise their flags to request speaking time, and a formal queue is established on the floor. Some moments are highly technical, with quiet but intense focus as delegates dissect complex policy language. Others are high-stakes and emotional, where voices are raised, tensions escalate, and entire agreements hang in the balance over a single phrase. The atmosphere differs room to room —sometimes tense, sometimes collaborative—often shaped by the level of trust (or lack thereof) built between negotiators.
I noticed something simple yet fundamental—climate negotiations operate on multiple levels. Two of the most obvious are the human level and the political level. On the human level, individuals come as they are—with their egos, quirks, moods, how much they’ve eaten, how much they’ve slept. And then there’s the political level, where national interests, alliances, and economic realities dictate positions.
At the end of the day, it’s a simple realization that we’re all just human, trying to balance duty to our countries with a broader responsibility to the world. Treating each other with kindness and basic humanity wasn’t just important—it was essential. Yet, in high-stress moments, it was easy to lose sight of that. That’s why I always made sure to bring food and snacks for everyone—to lift the mood, foster a friendlier atmosphere, and create a sense of togetherness, especially when negotiations stretched into the early hours of the morning.
Of course, there are deeper, more nuanced layers to negotiations—ones that only become easier to navigate after attending multiple COPs after forging relationships and reading the room with more ease. It’s a deeply psychological affair, requiring constant reading of people, anticipating their needs, and strategically navigating relationships. The dynamics aren’t just about policies and numbers—they’re about human behavior, trust, and the subtle interplay of influence.
Overall, the experience was both inspiring and, at times, disheartening. Being inside the negotiations gave me a deep appreciation for the complexity of global agreements—every commitment is the result of painstaking compromise. Progress can feel painfully slow, frustratingly bureaucratic, and sometimes unnecessarily complicated, whether due to a country’s negotiation strategy or simply the challenge of coordinating so many people at once. Every word in an agreement holds weight—sometimes a single phrase can stall discussions for hours or even days, as every voice in that room carries equal weight.
Q5. Was there ever a moment that completely changed the way you see global climate action?
There are moments that definitely hit hard, especially in the Adaptation rooms. Some negotiations carry an emotional weight that’s impossible to ignore. I remember listening to a negotiator from a small island state describe how their country was literally disappearing under rising seas. For them, climate change isn’t a future scenario—it’s their daily reality. You could feel the entire room shift. Yet, even in those moments of urgency, securing financial commitments to help these nations remained an uphill battle. It was a harsh reminder that while ambition is important, accountability is everything.
One of the most demoralizing moments came when we failed to reach an agreement on a key agenda item, and under UNFCCC procedural rules, the entire discussion was nullified. It felt like months of work had just vanished. These are the moments where frustration peaks—sometimes, when the process and bureaucracy itself get in the way of action.
Sara’s reflections have given us a vivid glimpse into how personal commitment, corporate sustainability, and high-stakes diplomacy converge in her career. Yet this is only the beginning. In Part 2, we’ll explore the layers of what truly happens behind closed doors at global climate talks, examining the real drivers of ambition, accountability, and action.
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