Adrián Fernández Bremauntz is a Biologist with an MSc in Environmental Technology from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London, UK and a PhD in Environmental Science from the same Institution. As a visiting fellow, he carried out post-doctorate research work at the Harvard School of Public Health with support from the McNamara Fellowships Program of the World Bank. Dr. Fernández has experience as consultant for both the private and public sector, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Program. He is author and co-author of several articles and books. He has been occasional lecturer and guest instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Since 1995, Dr. Fernández has occupied senior positions at the National Environment Institute or INE (an Agency within the Environment Secretariat in México). Firstly as General Director for Environmental Management and Information (1995-2000), where he coordinating the preparation of the first country reports on Environmental Indicators, the first Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry and seven Air Quality Programs for the major cities around the country. During this period, he was responsible for the creation of the National Center for Environmental Research and Training (CENICA), the best equipped laboratory in Latin America to carry out pollution exposure studies. He chaired four US-México border working groups under the Border XXI bilateral program (air pollution, environmental information, environmental health, and pollution prevention). The US EPA awarded him the Bronze Medal for Commendable Service in pro of the Environment.
Then, as General Director for Research on Urban, Regional and Global Pollution (2001-2005) he coordinated the preparation of the National Greenhouse Gases Inventories & National Communications to the Climate Change Convention, helping México to become the only developing country that has submitted four of these National Reports to the UN Framework Convention. Regarding urban pollution, following his pioneering research work of the early 1990s, his team at INE carried out the first comprehensive assessment of the potential health benefits associated with commuters´ modal shift from midi-buses and buses to metro and bus rapid transit systems in Mexico City.
He served as member of the Bureau representing Latin America at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development. For nearly a decade he represented Mexico at the OECD´s Environmental Performance of Countries work-group. Since 2001, he has been an active member of the Climate Change Expert Group of the OECD as well as a senior member of the Mexican Delegation attending Conferences of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. He has been author and co-author of several books and peer reviewed articles mainly in the field of air quality management and climate change.
In March 2005 he was appointed President of INE. Under his leadership, INE has expanded his role to become the leading advisory institution on environmental matters for both houses of Congress as well as for the Office of the President of México.
