Meet Gustavo Moraga – a passionate Life Cycle Assessment and circular economy expert with a global perspective. Before joining our Auckland office, he worked with the United Nations, OECD, and the European Commission, helping shape sustainability on a large scale.
He is driven by the desire to make a real difference – guiding businesses towards sustainable practices with a holistic approach. From tackling the world’s reliance on fossil fuels to advocating for a broader focus beyond carbon, his insights challenge us to think bigger.
Why did you choose a career in sustainability?
I want to make a positive impact. I like to dedicate my time to projects with a tangible positive effect on the environment and society, helping businesses reduce their environmental impact and embrace sustainable practices.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in sustainability?
The biggest one is to detach energy systems from using fossil fuels! We focus a lot on decreasing the carbon attached to fuels. While this is an important and immediate issue, the problem is multifaceted. Other important and immediate issues receive less attention: biodiversity protection, human health, and human rights, to mention a few. To address a low-carbon future, we need to widen our lens from a tunnel carbon vision.
Is there a book or podcast you would like to recommend and why?
I recently read Tim Jackson’s Post growth: Life after Capitalism where he unpacks the impact of overconsumption and the loss of purposeful work in our society. This book is a hopeful vision of life - based on human flourishing within our planet’s limits rather than perpetual material accumulation.
What do you do when you’re not working?
When I’m not working, you can find me at the gym trying to convince myself that I like squats. I can call myself a newcomer to strength training. Right now, it’s more like lifting with a side of comic relief.