Ricardo Batista is Head of the Climate Action and Clean Air Section at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where he leads the Organization's work on the implementation and further development of international measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and improve air quality. In this role, he supports Member States in advancing the IMO's climate agenda, including the implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy and the development of the IMO Net-Zero Framework.

A Naval Architect and Marine Engineer by training, Ricardo brings more than 25 years of international experience spanning regulation, policy development, ship design and operation. Before assuming his current role, he served in the IMO Maritime Safety Division, where he acted as Secretary of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) and led technical work on the safety of decarbonization technologies, nuclear power for ships, Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), Goal-Based Standards (GBS), intact stability, ship structures and underwater radiated noise.

Prior to joining IMO, Ricardo worked at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, on the development, negotiation and implementation of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, one of the European Union's flagship measures to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used by ships. Earlier, at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), he provided scientific and technical support to the European Commission on ship safety and sustainability, with particular emphasis on alternative energy systems, electrification and fire safety.

Ricardo's professional background also includes experience with a classification society, a shipyard and service at sea as a marine engineer.