Later in the year, COP 16, the Biodiversity Conference, takes place in Cali, Colombia, with a strong focus on ocean conservation. José María participates in multiple engagements, including moderating a session on Antarctica, emphasizing the critical need to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the continent.

At the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai, José María delivers the keynote address at the inaugural session. This event gathers over a thousand companies from around the globe, focused on advancing goods and services within the Green and Blue Economies.

UNESCO invites José María to join its Ocean Decade Advisory Board, which guides the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030). The Board advances ocean research and sustainability initiatives to tackle critical challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, fostering a resilient and healthy ocean.

José María actively participates in the Second United Nations Ocean Conference in Portugal, which focuses on advancing science and innovation to support SDG 14, dedicated to the Ocean.

José María and extreme swimmer Lewis Pugh visit Antarctica from South Africa, to highlight the accelerating ice melt and its implications for Ocean health and biodiversity.

José María joins Antarctica 2020, advocating for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Antarctica under the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), to bolster resilience against climate change and biodiversity loss.

José María keynotes the inaugural Ocean Risk Summit in Bermuda, where 200 leaders from finance, insurance, government, non-profits, and academia gather to address critical ocean risks like biodiversity loss, extreme storms, overfishing, and pollution. This event leads to the formation of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), where José María now serves on the Board, helping to advance resilience against ocean-related risks.

Together with Richard Branson, Karen Sack, and Jean Oelwang, José María co-founds Ocean Unite, focusing on Ocean conservation and biodiversity. The organization’s early work promotes the Global Ocean Commission's recommendations.

With the Carbon War Room thriving, José María and colleagues merge it with the Rocky Mountain Institute, creating a stronger entity to combat climate change. José María becomes chairperson of the new organization.

José María co-chairs the Global Ocean Commission alongside David Miliband and Trevor Manuel. Over the next two years, the Commission publishes a highly respected report with eight concrete recommendations aimed at restoring the Ocean's health.

José María launches "Vía Costarricense, Proyecto País," an initiative to co-create a shared vision for Costa Rica's sustainable development, bringing together various political and civil society sectors. The project produces two reports outlining a sustainable development vision for the country.

Sir Richard Branson launches the Carbon War Room, and José María serves as its first Chairperson and later CEO. The organization aims to reduce carbon emissions profitably, bridging environmental actions with economic gains.

José María participates in a ten-day EarthWatch Institute Expedition to the Arctic Circle, conducting experiments on the frozen ground beneath the snow cover. During this expedition, he experiences the coldest temperature he has ever endured: - 42 degrees Celsius.

Following global terrorist attacks, José María is tasked by FRIDE and the Club de Madrid to organize the International Conference on Democracy, Terrorism, and Security under the auspices of His Majesty, the King of Spain.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) names José María as one of its Managing Directors, a role from which he integrates leading NGOs into WEF activities, including Davos. He later becomes the Forum’s CEO, the first to hold this position.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appoints José María as President of the UN ICT Task Force, a coalition of leading tech companies, academia, and civil society dedicated to using technology as a catalyst for development.

After his presidency, José María and Josette Altmann establish the Fundación Costa Rica para el Desarrollo Sostenible (FCRDS) to pursue sustainable development and technology initiatives. Early projects include AMOVENS, promoting electric mobility, and LINCOS, aimed at enhancing connectivity in rural areas.

José María secures the National Liberation Party nomination in a five-candidate race and wins the presidency of Costa Rica, becoming the nation’s 42nd President at the age of 39. His administration advances economic, social, and environmental reforms, emphasizing sustainable development, which earns him the inaugural Global Environment Facility (GEF) Leadership for Environment Prize. Click here for more information

At the end of the Arias administration, José María receives a scholarship from the Mariscal Ayacucho Foundation in Venezuela to attend Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He graduates with an MPA, supplementing his studies with courses at the Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, the Fletcher School of Diplomacy, and the MIT Media Lab.

As cabinet changes arise under President Arias, José María is appointed Minister of Agriculture amidst tensions within the agricultural sector. He engages stakeholders in dialogue to address concerns around the policy shift toward an export-oriented economy.

José María becomes Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade, a recently created role aimed at policy development and supporting the business sector’s export efforts. These are foundational years as Costa Rica shifts from import substitution to an export-oriented economic model.

On the heels of successfully turning around the family business, José María is appointed to lead a recovery operation for Costa Rica's National Railway System, INCOFER. This marks his formal entry into public service during President Óscar Arias's administration.

Upon returning to Costa Rica after West Point, José María joins the family’s agro-industrial business, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. He restructures the management, divests non-productive assets, and steers the company toward export-oriented production, ultimately revitalizing it.

José María graduates from the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at the Academy, he participated in the soccer and pistol teams and graduated top of his class from Ranger School. His service included an assignment with a light cavalry unit in Wiesbaden, Germany, guarding the Fulda Gap.

José María graduates from Lincoln High School, where he honed his language skills, played as a soccer goalie, led the Student Body as its President, and engaged actively in extracurricular activities. During this period, he served in the National Police Reserve and completed Airborne School at Fort Cimarrón, Panama.

On December 24, José María is born in San José, Costa Rica. His early years are spent in La Lucha, the agro-industrial complex his father established in 1928. Alongside his local public schooling, this rural environment instills in him a deep appreciation for nature and sparks his interest in environmental issues.