New York, 13 May 2016 - Following the nomination by the Secretary-General, the General Assembly today elected Erik Solheim of Norway as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for a four-year term. Mr. Solheim will succeed Achim Steiner of Germany, to whom the Secretary-General conveyed his gratitude and appreciation for having, during his 10 years' tenure, managed to inspire and lead significant transformation of UNEP into a strategically powerful and substantively confident organization.
His leadership and tangible achievements as Chair of the High Level Committee on Programmes, as the principle mechanism for system-wide coordination in the UN system, are praiseworthy. Achim Steiner said, "My wholehearted congratulations to Erik Solheim on his election by the General Assembly to become UNEP's Executive Director. Leading UNEP into the future at this critical juncture in history carries with it great expectations.
I look forward to welcoming Mr. Solheim at UNEP's headquarters in Nairobi and introducing him to a fantastic team of dedicated professionals and partners." Erik Solheim said, "I am deeply humbled and honored to be elected by the General Assembly to lead the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "Together with the fantastic UNEP team, I will devote all my energy to the fight for the planet and its people.
"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals have given a renewed framework for us to work towards protecting our vulnerable Earth while bringing every human being out of poverty. "Building on our common love for nature, I commit to assisting Member States to the best of my ability in maintaining healthy ecosystems, reduce pollution and fight climate change."
Mr. Solheim is currently Chair of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a post he has held since 2013, and is serving as UNEP's Special Envoy for environment, conflict and disaster. Known as the 'green' politician, he held the combined portfolio of Norway's Minister of the Environment and International Development from 2007 to 2012, and served as Minister of International Development from 2005 to 2007.
Having spent most of his career fighting for the environment in national and global politics, including through non-governmental organizations and during his combined ministerial portfolio, Mr. Solheim has focussed on the challenge of integrating environmental and developmental issues. During his ministerial tenure, Norway reached 1 per cent for overseas development assistance and the unique Nature Diversity Act was passed.
He initiated the process leading to the global coalition to conserve and promote sustainable use of the world's rainforests - the UN REDD - gaining invaluable diplomatic and organizational experience. Holding an undergraduate degree in history and social studies from the University of Oslo, Mr. Solheim has received several awards for his work on climate and environment, including UNEP's "Champion of the Earth" award, and contributed to a number of peace and reconciliation efforts, most notably as the chief negotiator of the peace process in Sri Lanka. Born in 1955, he is married, with four children.
