Argentinian minister - a rabbi - named in 100 top figures on climate policy

Environment secretary Sergio Bergman - who is also the religious leader at the country's oldest shul - named alongside David Attenborough and Michael Bloomberg.

Sergio Bergman, the rabbi of Argentina’s oldest synagogue, Templo Libertad in Buenos Aires, has been named one of the 100 most influential voices on climate change.

Rabbi Bergman, a long-time friend of Pope Francis, is also Argentina’s minister of environment and sustainable development, serving in the administration of President Mauricio Macri.

Now Rabbi Bergman has been recognised as a global leader on climate change, on par with people such as Sir David Attenborough and New York’s Michael Bloomberg.

The Apolitical Group, which works with the World Economic Forum and governmental agencies around the world, named him to their Climate 100 list of “The World’s Most Influential People in Climate Policy.” He has been commended, according to the nomination, as a faith leader who “has advocated for taking a more ethical approach to environmental policies rather than scientific”.

The rabbi also heads the Judaica Foundation, a network that includes synagogues, educational institutions, social programmes, charitable funds, a gay alliance and rural farms.