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Message from Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (1997 - 2007):

"If the world succeeds in making a transition to truly sustainable development, all of us will owe no small debt of gratitude to Maurice Strong, whose prescience and dynamic presence on the International stage have played a key role in convincing governments and grassroots alike to embrace the principle - if not yet the practice - of adopting a new, long-term, custodial approach to the global environment.

But if the world fails to transform its relationship with the planet and its bounty of natural resources - alas, the oft predicted environmental catastrophe does come to pass - no one will be able to say that Maurice Strong was part of the problem, or that he was ever less than fully committed to the goal of reconciling environment and development, ecology and economy, and the needs of the present with the needs of future generations.

It would be a mistake to think of Maurice solely as one of the world's leading environmentalists. His main cause has been people.

Whether he was helping to put the environment on the international agenda in the 1970s, orchestrating the landmark Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 or assisting me to reform the United Nations to face the challenges of a new era in world affairs, his wish has been to see men and women in all countries leading peaceful lives of dignity, security freedom and opportunity, in harmony with nature and themselves.

In his long career, he has struggled against powerful and entrenched interests, from business to bureaucracies. He has made allies out of former antagonists.

And he has compiled a solid record of achievement in both the public servie and the private sector.

I have worked with him for many years and have always valued his advice, enjoyed his friendship and admired his committment fo international co-operation and to multilateralisms's main instrument, the United Nations.

I have no doubt that internet users will find in this website the same qualities that have made Maurice Strong a unique and important force in our lives; they, may also, not least, derive some hope for our shared future. "

Maurice Strong: A Study in Leadership

This study, by former Swedish Ambassador Lars-Göran Engfeldt presents a chronological history and a behind-the-scenes analysis of the origins and evolution of the international system that today governs sustainable development. Known as the “Stockholm-Rio-Johannesburg process”, the study begins in 1967 when Sweden proposed that the United Nations General Assembly convene a conference on the environment. This led to the pioneering 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm which was followed by the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro and culminated with the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. For more information: click here.

Landmarks

Canada's Business News Network interviews Maurice Strong

Canada's Business News Network interviews Maurice Strong. The interview covers a wide range of issues, including the outcome of the recent UN climate talks in Copenhagen, how to get binding government commitments to a climate declaration, doomsdayers, the opportunities for business in a low carbon economy, and development of tar sands in Canada, Strong calls for a strong people-centred movement to shift government inaction to tackle climate change.

Read extracts of the interview Watch Video

Maurice Strong responds to erroneous, ideological attacks

Maurice Strong responds to a few recent media articles. He points out that it it is useful to put on record for those who may be interested, the facts which have been the subject of misinformation, misinterpretation and outright lying by his critics.

The crux of the climate debate

Throughout human history, civilizations have risen and fallen, often due to mismanagement of their environment. In an interview, Maurice Strong says that the climate change crisis is fundamentally different and affects the survival and sustainability of all people.

We must work to ensure the climate security that is essential to our survival as well as the sustainability and progress to which we aspire. Time is clearly running out and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

Writing in the World Policy Journal, Maurice Strong warns that the accelerating damage to the Earth’s natural capital will have even more devastating consequences for the human future than the current financial and economic crises.