Dr. Michał Kurtyka, born in 1973, is a Polish politician and energy expert. He became the COP24 President on 2 December 2018, successfully leading the 24th UN climate summit, where the Katowice Rulebook was adopted to advance the Paris Agreement. During his tenure, significant political declarations on Solidarity and Just Transition, Electromobility, and Forest Protection gained widespread support. Kurtyka has held key roles in international organizations, including chairing the 2019 International Energy Agency Ministerial and the 42nd session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN in 2021. He was appointed as Poland's first Minister of Climate in 2019, with his portfolio expanding to include the Ministry of Climate and Environment in 2020. Under his leadership, Poland adopted the 2040 Energy Policy, marking a new phase in the country's energy transition, launching programs such as "My Water," "Green Public Transport," and "Green Cars." Academically, Kurtyka is a graduate of École Polytechnique in Paris, with further studies in quantum optics at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S. and economics at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve. He earned a master’s degree from SGH Warsaw School of Economics and completed his PhD at the University of Warsaw, where he has also lectured on change management, economics, and industrial strategy.