Achim Steiner is an outstanding international leader in his capacity as the Executive Director of UNEP and Undersecretary General of the United Nations. He is a systems thinker and doer, integrating cultures, disciplines and sectors in the pursuit of a sustainable environment for all. His leadership to launch UNEP’s initiative for the world, the Green Deal, has made its deep marks into international and national policy.
Achim Steiner has shown an unusual capacity for listening to the needs and views of disparate communities, governments, business, academia, civil society and integrating these into policies which have frequently been implemented. His masterful leadership at the IUCN and the World Commission on Dams paved way for his nomination to lead UNEP.
As is the case with UN executives, the kind of leadership they exercise may appear less exalting than that practised by CEO’s and heads of state. Nevertheless, the impact that Achim Steiner has had, and continues to have in myriads of constituencies and countless localities through his work in the interest of the whole, brings even higher value.
Achim’s open-mindedness, humanistic and youthful leadership is rare and unique. Achim Steiner belongs to the future.
The Criteria for the award: The award should be
given to an individual who has consistently applied humanistic, social
and ecological values in his/her pursuit of results. The prize should
thus encourage and support the leadership that combines the articulation
of consistent values and positive results.
This is the essence of principled pragmatism.
In short, the prize encourages leadership that “walks the talk.”
The Prize
The prize consists of a diploma and a
contribution of 500 000 SEK to the recipient’s charity of choice.
The contribution of 500 000 SEK is made possible by the generous
support of Svenska PostkodLotteriet.
Previous recipients:
- Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister, Norway (2009)
- Kofi Annan, President, Global Humanitarian Forum, Geneva and former
Secretary-General, United Nations, New York (2008)
- Lord John Browne of Madingley, former Group Chief Executive,
BP, United Kingdom (2006)
- Russell Ackoff, Chairman, Interact, USA (2005)