Achim Steiner

Achim Steiner
Name	Achim Steiner
Birth date	1961
Birth place	Fortaleza, Brazil
Nationality	German-British
Known for	Environmental leadership, sustainable development, multilateral diplomacy
Alma mater	University of Oxford, University of London
Occupation	International civil servant
Employer	United Nations, International Union for Conservation of Nature

Achim Steiner Achim Steiner is a German-British international environmental leader and multilateral diplomat known for senior roles at the United Nations and major conservation organizations. His career spans leadership at the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, engaging with institutions such as the World Bank, the European Commission, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Steiner's work has intersected with global processes including United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Sustainable Development Goals negotiations.

Early life and education

Steiner was born in Fortaleza, Brazil, to a family with German and British roots and grew up in Scotland and Brazil. He completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Oxford and the University of London, where he studied subjects linked to development and environmental policy. During his formative years he engaged with organizations such as Oxfam, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Wildlife Fund through internships and early-career collaborations. His academic background connected him with scholars and institutions like Amartya Sen, James Lovelock, and research centers affiliated with Oxford University and SOAS University of London.

Career

Steiner's professional trajectory includes posts in international development, environmental conservation, and multilateral administration. Early in his career he worked with the United Nations Development Programme and within the Commonwealth Secretariat on policy issues related to sustainable development and environmental management. He has been involved in programs with the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and regional organizations such as the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. His career path led to senior appointments in specialized UN agencies, multilateral environmental agreements, and non-governmental organizations including the International Institute for Environment and Development and the Institute of Development Studies.

Steiner has participated in high-level negotiations and conferences such as meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, the Rio+20 Conference, the annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and sessions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. He has collaborated with political leaders and policymakers from countries including United States, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, and United Kingdom. Interactions with figures from institutions like the European Union, African Development Bank, and Asian Development Bank have been a feature of his diplomatic work.

Leadership at UN Environment Programme and UNEP-related initiatives

As head of the UN agency responsible for environmental issues, Steiner led the United Nations Environment Programme during critical periods of international environmental diplomacy. His tenure engaged UNEP with processes under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and with implementation of the Paris Agreement outcomes, while connecting UNEP initiatives to the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Steiner advanced partnerships with entities such as the World Meteorological Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Under his leadership, UNEP developed programs relating to ecosystem services, biodiversity finance, and climate resilience, coordinating with the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. UNEP engaged with private-sector partners including the World Economic Forum and multilateral banks like the European Investment Bank to leverage finance for conservation and green recovery. Steiner guided UNEP through initiatives tied to major events such as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and the intergovernmental negotiations preceding major biodiversity summits.

Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Steiner served as Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, leading one of the world’s oldest environmental organizations comprising states, governmental agencies, indigenous groups, and civil society members. In this role he interacted with the Convention on Biological Diversity processes, CITES, and major conservation projects in partnership with national governments such as Kenya, Indonesia, Peru, and Australia. He advanced initiatives on natural capital, protected areas, and species conservation, aligning IUCN science and policy tools with the needs of contributors including the European Commission, the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, and philanthropic organizations like the Ford Foundation.

Steiner’s IUCN leadership emphasized evidence-based conservation, working with networks including the IUCN Species Survival Commission, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, and academic institutions such as Stanford University and the University of Cambridge on applied research.

Other roles and affiliations

Beyond UN and IUCN positions, Steiner has been affiliated with academic and policy institutions including University of Oxford colleges, the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and the Chatham House. He has served on advisory boards linked to the World Economic Forum, the Green Climate Fund, and the International Renewable Energy Agency. His collaborations extended to NGOs like Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and BirdLife International, and to intergovernmental initiatives such as the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Awards and honors

Steiner has received honors and recognitions from international bodies, universities, and conservation organizations, reflecting contributions to multilateral environmental governance and sustainable development. Awards and honorary degrees have been conferred by institutions including the University of London, the University of Oxford, and other academic partners, while international honors have come from governments and multilateral partners engaged in environmental diplomacy and biodiversity conservation.

Category:Environmentalists Category:United Nations officials