Story | 02 Feb, 2015

IUCN’s new Director General engages global leaders in Davos

As one of her first acts, IUCN Director General Inger Andersen participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Photo: World Economic Forum

Thousands of business and government leaders gathered at the Forum last month to debate some of the most pressing global challenges, including climate change, sustainable finance and social inequity.

Ms Andersen spoke in a number of sessions, including one that explored how the minerals and mining industry could strengthen its engagement with civil society. She also held several one-on-one meetings with IUCN partners, such as National Geographic, Novozymes and Royal Dutch Shell.

In addition, the WEF asked Ms Andersen to serve as a Trustee for its Global Agenda on the Environment, which is an opportunity for IUCN to shape the Forum’s on-going dialogue and initiatives with business leaders.

“There is growing recognition that the private sector has a key role to play in advancing sustainable development, and IUCN needs to scale-up its engagement with business if we are going to achieve the paradigm shift this demands,” she said. “At the heart of IUCN’s mission is conserving and valuing natural capital, and this means working with all actors -- the private sector, as well as governments and civil society – to build a better future.”

Read Ms Andersen’s Opinion Editorial on valuing natural capital that was published by Guardian Sustainable Business last week.