Dr. Karsten Sach, born in 1959, is Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation in the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany. Before he assumed that position in 2004, he led the Division "International Cooperation, Global Conventions, Climate Change” in the Federal Ministry for Environment for five years. Since 1999, Karsten Sach is the German chief negotiator at the UNFCCC conferences of the parties. 

1998/1999 he served as Deputy Head of Division "International Cooperation, Global Conventions Climate Change” in the Ministry for Environment. From 1993 – 1997, Karsten Sach served as Environment Attaché of the Permanent Representation of Germany to the European Union in Brussels. He entered the Environment Ministry in 1991 and worked in the Division “Protection of the Marine Environment, International Water Protection Law” for two years. 

Since September 2008, Karsten Sach is Chairman of the Management Board of the European Environment Agency.

Karsten Sach is involved in numerous international networks and associations such as the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). He also played a significant role in the negotiations around the creation and set-up of IRENA. 

Before joining the ministry, Dr. Sach was teaching environment and economic law. He studied law in Kiel and Freiburg and has a PhD in law.  He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, is married and lives near Berlin.