Mr. Elvira was born on April 11th, 1958 in Mexico City, in a family originally from the State of Michoacán.

He has a Degree in Agricultural Engineering by the by the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a Masters Degree in Science on Agricultural Engineering by the Cranfield Institute of Technology, National College of Agricultural Engineering of Bedfordshire, England.

Among the most important offices he has carried out in public administration are as Assistant Attorney General for Industrial Inspection in the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA, for its acronym in Spanish) and Undersecretary for Environmental Promotion and Regulation of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT, for its acronym in Spanish).

Since he was Mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán (1999-2000), his line of work in public administration has been guided by the vision to design solutions that imply the close dynamics of social and environmental topics, with high emphasis on social participation and multilateral collaboration.

His performance as a pubic officer has been focused on achieving the recognition of the true value of Mexico’s natural resources, taking into account the products as well as the environmental services they provide; this in order to promote social and economic development, the improvement of the quality of life of all Mexicans and new income and employment opportunities.

Regarding climate change, Secretary Elvira has been noted for directing public policies toward action, beyond mere proposal and discussion; leading to the definition of goals and clear commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, even though the international conventions do not oblige Mexico to do so. He has also directed public policies to deal with this global phenomenon as an opportunity and focus on the economic development of the country towards green growth.

For this reason his management as the head of the SEMARNAT focuses on the protection and conservation of forest ecosystems of Mexico and to combat deforestation; on the conservation and sustainable use of Mexico’s unparalleled biodiversity; and on the integral and sustainable use of water, all these important tools we have to deal with climate change.

Major achievements include 4.57 million hectares of forest ecosystems –about 11.3 million acres, an area larger than Denmark –where the provision of environmental services is ensured through ProÁrbol, the most successful forestry program in Mexican history, aimed at supporting the owners of forest land to protect, conserve, restore and sustainably use forests resources of Mexico.

Also important are the 3.5 million hectares of priority ecosystems of Mexico that have been enacted as Natural Protected Areas under the administration of the Federal Government, thus fulfilling since the year 2009, the target set for 2012. This area is larger than Belgium.

Secretary Elvira’s performance as head of the SEMARNAT has encouraged support for the municipalities of the country through the strengthening of the municipal solid waste, water and natural resources integrated management through innovative schemes of participation which promotes the creation of local payment mechanisms for environmental services.

His management has also favored the international recognition of Mexico as a leading country in the environmental field. Highlights are the recognitions from the Rainforest Alliance (2011) for the implementation of sustainable standards in the management of Mexican forest ecosystems; from the Ramsar Committee to the Mexican Government for its leading role to ensure the protection of wetlands; and from the Competitive Low Carbon Report which mentions Mexico as the country which economic growth has increased faster without increasing its carbon emissions.

The successful implementation of federal environmental policy has resulted in various international organizations, including the United Nations, recognizing and rewarding President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa as an Energy Efficiency Visionary for the firm stance that Mexico held in the sixteenth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; and as a "Champion of the Earth" for his leadership to direct to the development of Mexico towards a green economy.

During the present administration Mexico has been honored with the following in environmental awards:
• The Sustainable Standard-Setter Award by the Rainforest Alliance for the implementation of sustainable standards in the management of the forest ecosystems (2011).
• From the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for the notorious work of the Mexican Government in the protection of the wetlands (2010).
• According to the Low Carbon Competitiveness Report, Mexico is the country which economic growth has increased the most without increasing its carbon emissions.
• From the United Nation Organization for the Industrial Development for the promotion of sustainable development in Mexico (2009).
• From the United Nation System for the initiative “Más México en Naciones Unidas, más Naciones Unidas en México” (2009).
• From the Caucus Foundation for the Mexican efforts on global environmental conservation (2010).
• The “Star of Energy Efficiency Award” from the Directive Committee of Alliance to Save Energy, for the promotion of sustainable housing development (2009).
• The Globe Award by the Global Legislators Organization for the Mexican environmental leadership (2009).

Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada will continue to guide the work of the federal environmental sector towards the achievement of the goal set since the beginning of his term as head of the SEMARNAT: to promote the sustainable management of natural resources of Mexico as an opportunity to encourage economic development and to increase the wellbeing of Mexican families, in order to assist building a country and a planet where everyone can live better.