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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.

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

Welcome


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 service and the  private sector.

I have worked with him for many years and have always valued his advice, enjoyed  his friendship and admired his commitment for international co-operation and to multilateralism'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. "