Author: Lisa Tostado


Lisa Tostado (she/her) is the Agrochemicals and Fossil Fuel Campaigner in CIEL’s Fossil Economy Program, based in Paris. Her work focuses primarily on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as interdependent inputs to a destructive corporate-controlled food production model that is contributing to catastrophic biodiversity collapse, toxic pollution, the violation of human rights, and global heating. As such, she is connecting people across different movements (food systems, plastics, fossil fuels, climate, toxics and chemicals, …) to advocate for the need of a profound transformation to resilient, regenerative models that enhance food and energy sovereignty. Prior to joining CIEL, Lisa worked at the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU office, where she headed the international Climate, Trade and Agriculture Policy Program. She also gained experience in plastic waste management at the French Producer Responsibility Scheme for packaging, and worked for the institute for political education in Germany. Lisa completed a B.A. in Political Science and Economics at the University of Mannheim, Germany, and the University of Ottawa, Canada. She then moved to France, where she gained a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Sciences Po. During an exchange semester, she was part of the EU’s program on Environmental Diplomacy and Geopolitics from the University of Liège, Belgium, and Bratislava, Slovakia. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors (winter sports, stand-up paddling, biking, rollerblading, hiking, camping), dancing, juggling and playing the handpan. With her husband, she also runs a shelter project for refugees in Paris.

Navigating the fertilizer industry towards a greener future?

The biggest fertilizer company in Europe concluded the first ever cross-border deal with a carbon capture joint venture to store CO2 emissions from its biggest production plant in the Netherlands below the seabed in Norway. It is supposed to “demonstrate that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a climate tool for Europe”. Lisa Tostado explains why capturing CO2 in the Netherlands and shipping it to Norway is not a climate solution.

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Anonymous ammonia

Fossil fuel and synthetic fertilizer companies are aligning to pursue a new escape hatch to continue the fossil economy at the expense of the global climate, the environment, and people’s health and rights: blue ammonia. Lisa Tostado explains why this is an overlooked but central threat to the energy  transition.

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In terms of methane emissions we are repeating the Nord Stream explosions every day

One of the most methane emitting events ever recorded, the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in 2022, released a huge amount of this very potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. What is striking, though: Normal oil and gas operations globally emit the same amount of methane as the explosion every single day. These emissions are in large parts preventable, they are unacceptable from a climate and air quality standpoint, and they are a colossal waste of precious resources against the backdrop of energy security concerns. Lisa Tostado analyzes the latest data on methane emissions from the energy sector and argues that the issue has not received the attention it deserved.

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Methane emissions remain a big problem – also for biogas

Biomethane and biogas are increasingly turned to as alternatives for fossil gas. However, their production and distribution can still result in climate damaging methane (CH4) emissions, the magnitude of which remains unclear. A new study from the Imperial College London finds that emissions along the supply chain are much greater than previously estimated. Mitigating CH4 throughout not only fossil gas, but also biomethane and biogas supply chains is urgently needed. Lisa Tostado investigates.

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Beyond the Tour de France: Cycling in the post-Covid-19 French Republic

For a long time, the French have considered cycling a sport rather than a way of transport. This has changed in the past years with raising concerns about air quality, climate change and public health. 2020 can be a real turning point with long strikes in public transit as well as government support for a bike system in the aftermath of the Coronavirus crisis. Lisa Tostado takes a closer look.

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