Interviews
Russell E. Train in his office at WWF
Seeking to learn about the history of the global environmental governance system from its very architects, this project aims to create an adequate record of the recollections and observations of key participants involved in the global environmental governance system.
Asking for their thoughts, ideas, knowledge, and experience in the processes of creating structures of global environmental governance, we have begun interviewing those intimately engaged in international environmental issues in an effort to preserve the system’s history and to paint a portrait of it that is as accurate and complete as possible.
People Interviewed to Date:
Henrique Cavalcanti has held a number of positions with the Federal Government in Brazil — as Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy (1967-1969), as Deputy Minister of the Interior (1969-1974), during which time he was a member of the Brazilian delegation to the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment, and as Federal Minister of Environment and the Amazon (1994). Cavalcanti served as Chairman of the Third Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (1995-1996). Currently, in addition to being an advisor and board member in various organizations, he is a Professor at the Center of Advanced Studies on Government at the University of Brasilia.
Arthur Dahl held various positions within the United Nations Environment Programme between 1989 and 2002, including Deputy to the Director of the Regional Seas Programmes (1989-1992) and Deputy Assistant Executive Director (1996-1998). After his retirement, Dahl continues to consult for UNEP and other international organizations and runs the UNEP/UNITAR/University of Geneva Environmental Diplomacy course for mid-career professionals.
Lars-Göran Engfeldt served as Swedish liaison officer in the secretariat for the Stockholm Conference in the early 1970s, prior to which he worked at the Swedish Mission to the UN in New York. In 1993, he was appointed Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN Habitat. For several years, Engfeldt served as Swedish Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro. Since 1998, he has been Chief Negotiator for global environment and sustainable development issues for the Swedish Ministry of Environment in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2001, Engfeldt was Head of Delegation of Sweden on behalf of the European Union to the Ninth Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and subsequently served as a Member of the Bureau of the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Richard N. Gardner, Professor of Law and International Organization at Columbia University, joined the Kennedy Administration in 1961, as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, a position he held until 1965. During preparations for the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment, he served as a special adviser to the United Nations, as he did again later, at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In addition to his teaching career, Gardner currently serves as Senior Counsel to Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius, a global law firm.
Wendy Grieder came to Washington, DC in 1963 to work in Sargent Shriver’s personal office at the Peace Corps. After working for the United States Information Agency and then the McGovern-Shriver 1972 Presidential campaign, she spent six years doing foreign policy and defense work for Senator James Abourezk (1973-1979). Grieder went on to serve as International Activities Specialist in the policy division of the Office of International Activities at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She retired from the EPA in 2007, after twenty-five years of service.
William K. Reilly was a senior staff member of the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the first years of its existence, in the early 1970s. Prior to becoming Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (1989-1993), he was President of the World Wildlife Fund (1985-1989) and The Conservation Foundation (1973-1989). As EPA Administrator, Reilly served as the head of the US delegation to the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is currently President and CEO of Aqua International Partners.
Maurice F. Strong was the first Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) from 1973-1975, after guiding its founding as Secretary-General of the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment. Strong was also the Secretary-General for the 1992UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio Earth Summit). His career has spanned over five decades at some of Canada’s major energy companies, including the Power Corporation of Canada, Ontario Hydro, and Petro-Canada (the national oil company). From 2005-2006, he was a Personal Envoy of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Korean Peninsula. Maurice Strong is now an Honorary Professor at Peking University, the Honorary Chairman of the Peking University Environmental Foundation and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Research on Security and Sustainability for Northeast Asia.
Mostafa K. Tolba was the Head of Egyptian Delegation to the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, and became the first Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme in 1973. He served as Deputy Executive Director until 1976 when he became the Executive Director of UNEP until 1992. In this capacity, he also provided leadership in the formation and implementation of the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Dr. Tolba is currently the President of the International Centre for Environment and Development, Professor Emeritus at Cairo University, and Chairman of the Egyptian Consultants for Environment and Development.
Russell E. Train was the first Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality(1970-1973) and the head of the US delegation to the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1973, he was appointed Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (1973-1977). Prior to becoming its Chairman (1985-1994), Train served as President of the World Wildlife Fund-U.S (1978-1985). After a long career, he continues to serve the World Wildlife Fund as Chairman Emeritus.
