Carlo André Angeles Maturano is a Lima Metropolitan Councilor, a Member of the Peruvian Government National Climate Change Commission and an Apolitical Foundation New Voices Councilor.
How would you describe your political path?
I would describe my political path as unusual. I started working in civil society by facilitating and participating in decision-making processes through several international organizations. My role at the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth as Regional Focal Point for Latin America in the Habitat III process represented a turning point in my career. As part of my role as Rapporteur for the Children and Youth Assembly, I saw young people from around the world agree that people like them must step into public service and—some thought—politics to actively shape policy and improve the state of the world. This idea had such a strong impact on me that it became my first step into public service and then politics.
“I want people to think of politicians as members of their own communities, not as distant rulers.”
What are the most useful lessons you've learnt on the way?
I started my career in civil society advocating for participation mechanisms in the design and implementation of public policies. Later, my career in public service involved facilitating those mechanisms before finally starting a political career to establish those mechanisms as a sustainable long term public policy.
Along the way, I learnt that grassroot organizations are the biggest driving force for positive change. You must actively engage civil society in the design and the implementation process for public policy. That is the only way you can lead sustainable ambitious reforms that would be otherwise impossible.
What are the top two things that could be done to get courageous, ethical and trusted politicians in your area?
Visibility
Good actions often tend to be invisible to the public eye. We must give visibility to the politicians serving their communities and the good actions that they are pushing forward on behalf of the people they represent.
Grassroots Empowerment
Representation is at the core of political work. Good representation will only be possible with an empowered civil society developing their technical and soft skills so that they may eventually take the lead in political office.
What ideas and/or people are inspiring you at the moment?
Non-Proliferation of Fossil Fuels
The fossil fuels industry is projected to produce 110% more emissions than what is required to limit warming to 1.5 Celsius by 2030. We need to de-escalate our dependance on fossil fuels and lead a transition into sustainable sources of energy.
Sustainable Public Procurement Eleven trillion USD out of the 90 trillion USD global GDP is directly related to public procurement, according to the World Bank. If we align procurement processes with the Sustainable Development Goals, we could generate a rapid and huge impact to achieve the 2030 agenda.
What story do you want communities to tell about politicians?
I want people to think of politicians as members of their own communities, not as distant rulers. My role in the Metropolitan Council has allowed me to build a strong sense of community between myself and thousands of Lima citizens who share the common vision that a better city is possible, but only if we all engage in achieving that common goal.
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