Press Release

Yvo de Boer Begins Four-Year Term as GGGI Director-General

Yvo de Boer, newly appointed Director-General of GGGI, speaks at his Inaugural Reception in Seoul on April 15, 2014.

SEOUL – April 15, 2014 – Yvo de Boer began his four-year term at the helm of the Global Green Growth Institute today
(GGGI).

Mr. de Boer, who served as KPMG Global Chairman of the Climate Change & Sustainability Services (CC&S) and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will lead the Seoul-based international organization as Director-General.

“It is my honor to have the opportunity to work at GGGI to help developing and emerging countries implement green growth practices to bring economic and environmental benefits,” Mr. de Boer said. “I very much look forward to supporting countries to enable them to make the global transition to a green growth pathway. The shift to a green economy will ultimately bring opportunities for countries to reduce environmental risk while heralding in the new light of prosperity.”

“Moreover, a practical approach needs to be taken to address the importance of social welfare and climate change, which are complementary objectives and essential for future of humankind,” emphasized Mr. de Boer.

His outstanding record of leadership in mobilizing the global political process on climate change and adding value to achieve concrete outcomes has been proven through receiving a knighthood from her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands in 2009 and the Dutch Climate Award in 2010.

At KPMG’s CC&S, Mr. de Boer has been leading a team of some 600 professionals from 60 countries. He also advises corporate leaders on the impacts of rapid environmental, social and political change and how their businesses should respond to grasp opportunities and manage risks.

Prior to his post at KPMG, he served as Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC for nearly four years where he led the international process to respond to climate change. During his term in office, he played a vital role in raising the importance of climate change to the highest levels of political and media attention. He also brought over 100 world leaders to Copenhagen to the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference and secured commitments from more than 90 countries to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Before joining the UNFCCC, Mr. De Boer served as vice-chair of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development, and acted as an advisor to the Government of China and the World Bank. In 2011, he was appointed to chair the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Climate Change.

A Dutch national born in Vienna, Mr. de Boer has also served as Director for International Affairs of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment of the Netherlands. In this position, he was responsible for international policy, both in the context of the European Union, as well as broader international cooperation.

He also served as Deputy Director-General for Environmental Protection in the same ministry, as Head of the Climate Change Department. Early in his career, Mr. de Boer worked for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT).

Mr. de Boer served as Vice-President of the Conference of Parties to UNFCCC and as Vice-Chair of the Commission on Sustainable Development. He has also been a member of various international bodies, including the Bureau of the Environment Policy Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Advisory Group of the Community Development Carbon Fund of the World Bank.

About GGGI

Based in Seoul, GGGI is a new intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote a new model of economic growth known as “green growth.” The organization partners with countries to help them build economies that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI’s experts are already working with governments around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. To learn more, see www.gggi.org and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.