Leadership Award for Head of of UN Environment Program: Achim Steiner

During Sunday evening, August 29, Achim Steiner, Head of the UN Environment Program, received the Tällberg Foundation Leadership Award. He received the award for his unique ability to bring together nations and people of diverse cultures, values and interests to work towards a sustainable environment.

The prize sum of SEK 500 000 is donated by PostkodLotteriet. The purpose is to help shed light on pragmatic leaders who apply humanitarian, social and environmental friendly values in their daily work to create a better world for people and nature. The prize sum is paid forward by the winner to a preferred nonprofit organization. Achim Steiner has chosen to donate the prize money to a Pakistani non-governmental organization, n Sarh Rural Support Program. It will give immediate help to victims in Pakistan to rebuild communities in the areas worst hit by the floods.

“We are very excited to give this year’s award to Achim Steiner. He is a person who has managed to stay true to his vision and at the same time managed to implement the difficult, but necessary, changes within a field facing significant challenges”, said Bo Ekman, Chairman and founder of Tällberg Foundation.

Motivation

The motivation: “Achim Steiner is a unique international leader who see the big picture. Steiner has a unique ability to bring nations and people together of diverse cultures, values and interests to work together towards a sustainable environment. His major initiative, The New Green Deal, serves as an inspiration for both nations and companies.”

“Achim Steiner is a young leader who is working in a deliberate and substantial way to involve as many people as possible in the vision of a better world and a more sustainable environment. Through UNEP and the New Green Deal, he has conveyed the clear message that the global financial crisis should not impede the process of poverty reduction and environmental issue”, says Niclas Kjellström-Matseke, CEO PostkodLotteriet.

Previous awardees include Kofi Annan and Gro Harlem Brundtland.