United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultations with the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), wrote to the President of the General Assembly requesting the General Assembly to confirm Achim Steiner of Germany as the new Administrator of UNDP for a term of four years. The General Assembly confirmed the nomination on 19 April.

The 55-year-old Brazil-born German citizen has been in the trenches of environmental activism since before his service at the UN, including work with the Washington-based International Union for Conservation of Nature.

He’s even devoted his professional life – for example, while working as secretary general of the World Commission on Dams (WCD) – to pet projects.

A commentator said : “In 2000, the WCD published a report showing how reservoirs posed dangers to the environment despite their importance for development. Notable for its holistic and sustainable approach, it is this viewpoint that Steiner brings to his new office.” (our emphasis).

The UN had been considering other candidates, not just Steiner. France’s environmental minister, Segolène Royal, was a final contender – and noticeably unhappy about the UN’s selection. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had actually promised the job to a woman, Royal said. She speculated that the UN tapped Steiner due to Germany’s role as an important donor for the UNDP, which relies on (voluntary) donations from individual nations.

Mr Steiner was Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme between 2006 and 2016.  He previously served as Director-General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi from 2009 to 2011, Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature from 2001 to 2006, and as Secretary-General of the World Commission on Dams, in South Africa, from 1998 to 2001.

Le Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies António Guterres, après consultation du Bureau Exécutif du Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD), a écrit au president de l’Assemblée Générale en lui demandant de confirmer Achim Steiner (Allemagne) comme nouvel administrateur du PNUD pour un mandat de quatre ans. L’Assemblée Générale a confirmé cette nomination le 19 avril.

Citoyen allemand de 55 ans, Steiner a toujours été actif pour l’écologie, longtemps avant de commencer à travailler au sein des institutions de l’ONU. Il a notamment occupé des postes au sein de l’Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature, basée à Washington. Il a consacré sa vie professionnelle à des projets “coup de poing”, comme quand il a été le Secrétaire Général de la Commission Mondiale des Barrages (CMD).

Selon un commentateur à Washington, « en 2000, la CMD a publié un rapport montrant que les réservoirs représentaient des dangers pour l’environnement, en dépit de leur importance pour le développement. Renommé pour cette approche holistique et durable, c’est ce point de vue que Steiner apportera dans ses nouvelles fonctions”. (c’est nous qui soulignons).

L’ONU a considéré d’autres candidats, dont Ségolène Royal, actuelle ministre de l’Environnement, qui faisait partie de la sélection finale et qui est notoirement insatisfaite de la décision de l’ONU. Selon elle, le Secrétaire Général Antonio Guterres avait en fait promis que le poste irait à une femme. Elle a sous-entendu que le choix de Steiner était dû au rôle de l’Allemagne, important donateur du PNUD, dont le budget dépend des dons volontaires des nations indivuelles.

Mr Steiner a été Directeur Exécutif du Programme des Nations Unies pour l’Environnement entre 2006 et 2016. Il été Directeur Général du bureau des Nations Unies à Nairobi entre 2009 et 2011, Directeur Général de l’UICN entre 2001 et 2006, et Secrétaire Général de la CMB, en Afrique du Sud, de 1998 à 2001.

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Press Relase

Dam Failure in Laos

The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) is following the situation very closely as information is just coming out about the collapse of the saddle dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Hydroelectric Dam, in Laos.

ICOLD newly elected President Michael Rogers made the following statement:

“Our deepest condolences go out to the people of Laos impacted by this tragedy, especially those families who have lost loved ones and/or their homes.

Dams are critical pieces of not only physical, but also socio-economic infrastructure that supply renewable power, storage for agricultural, industrial, municipal and community water supply. Like other large infrastructure in our societies, dams provide critical service, but also pose high risks that must be addressed during the planning, design and construction phases.   The precautionary principle of dams to prevent and/or mitigate adverse downstream safety consequences informs and is at the heart of the ICOLD Mission.

ICOLD has been working for 90 years to promote the safe and sustainable design and construction of dams.  As an organization of 100 nations committed to the safety of all dams around the world, ICOLD stands ready to assist and support the project owner and the national dam safety organization in Laos to assess the situation and work towards recovery.  Moving forward, it will be important to understand the full cause of this apparent failure so that important lessons may be shared with other nations and dam owners. This is the heart of ICOLD mission and the main reason why it was founded.  For example, during its recent Congress in Vienna (July 1-7 2018), ICOLD organized an important open workshop on the lessons learned from the Oroville Spillway Incident (USA, 2017).

Again, our heartfelt condolences go out to the thousands of persons downstream of this dam that have been impacted by this tragedy and ICOLD stands ready to support Laos in any way possible.”

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