Achim Steiner

Achim Steiner is a German-Brazilian environmentalist and senior United Nations official who has led major global institutions focused on sustainable development and environmental governance. He has served as the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2017, holding the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Early life and education

Born in Carazinho, Brazil, to German parents, Steiner was raised in a context that bridged Latin America and Europe. He completed his secondary education in Germany before pursuing higher studies in the United Kingdom. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and later a Master of Arts in regional planning from the University of London. He also completed a postgraduate fellowship at the German Development Institute in Berlin, which specialized in development policy.

Career at the United Nations

Steiner's early United Nations career included assignments with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan and with various development programs. He joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the late 1990s, initially working on water policy and regional cooperation. He later served as the Director of UNEP's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in Mexico City, and as the Secretary-General of the World Commission on Dams, an independent body initiated by the World Bank and IUCN.

Leadership of UNDP and UNEP

In 2006, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Steiner as the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a position he held for a decade. During his tenure, he championed the Green Economy Initiative and advocated for integrating environmental sustainability into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He oversaw major assessments like the Global Environment Outlook and strengthened partnerships with entities like the Global Environment Facility and the World Meteorological Organization. In 2017, Secretary-General António Guterres appointed him Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he leads the UN's largest development agency in its work across over 170 countries, focusing on climate change, poverty eradication, and governance.

Post-UN roles and current positions

Beyond his core UN roles, Steiner has held significant positions in global governance. Prior to leading UNEP, he was the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from 2001 to 2006. He has served on numerous advisory boards, including for the Stockholm Resilience Centre, the Oxford Martin School, and the World Economic Forum. He is a member of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate and co-chairs the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He remains a frequent speaker at major forums like the World Bank's Spring Meetings and the COP summits.

Awards and recognition

Steiner has received multiple international honors for his leadership in environmental and development policy. He was awarded the Tallberg Foundation's Leadership Award for his work on global sustainability. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Geneva and has been recognized by the German Federal Government with the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2020, he was listed among the most influential people in climate policy by Apolitical.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:German environmentalists Category:United Nations officials Category:University of Oxford alumni