3 March 2014: Yvo de Boer, former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and current KPMG Global Chair of Climate Change & Sustainability Services, has been appointed Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). De Boer will begin his four-year term on 15 April 2014.

Speaking after his appointment, de Boer said GGGI can help “create prosperity at a time when humans are experiencing challenges, such as climate change, energy, water, population growth, and an increase in urbanization,” which calls for a “shift toward economic growth in a more sustainable manner.”

At KPMG, de Boer has advised corporate leaders on the impacts of environmental, social and political change, and how their businesses can take advantage of opportunities and manage risks. He served as UNFCCC Executive Secretary for nearly four years.

GGGI Council Chair Lars Løkke Rasmussen noted that de Boer is joining a young organization, which has transformed itself in a short period of time from a Korean non-governmental organization (NGO) into an international organization with 20 Member States, official development assistance (ODA) eligibility and UN observer status. GGGI is based in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Yvo de Boer will succeed Howard Bamsey, an Australian national who served as Director-General for a year. During Bamsey’s tenure, GGGI operations grew to 34 programmes in 20 countries, assisting developing countries and emerging economies integrate green growth into regional and national economic goals.

GGGI was founded to support and promote green growth, an economic model that seeks to build economies that are efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. [GGGI Press Release on Appointment of New Director-General] [GGGI Press Release on Howard Bamsey Ending Term] [GGGI Website]