Previous Fora / 2003
Speakers
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Professor Mohamed El-Ashry |
| Former Chairman Global Environment Facility Egypt and United States |
Mohamed T. El-Ashry is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). He has been the GEF Chairman since 1991, and was appointed the first CEO and Chairman of the GEF in 1994. Under his leadership, GEF grew from a pilot program with less than 30 members to the largest single source of funding for the global environment with 173 member countries. In 2002, donors cast an extraordinary vote of confidence by replenishing GEF's trust fund by nearly $3 billion-the largest amount ever.
Dr. El-Ashry came to the GEF from the World Bank, where he was the Chief Environmental Advisor to the President and Director of the Environment Department. Prior to joining the World Bank, he served as Senior Vice President of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and as Director of Environmental Quality with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). He has held teaching and research positions at Cairo University, Pan-American-U.A.R. Oil Company, Illinois Geological Survey, Wilkes University, and the Environmental Defense Fund. He has also served as Senior Environmental Adviser to UNDP, as Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), and as a member of the World Water Commission.
Dr. El-Ashry received his Bachelor od Science degree with honors in 1959 from Cairo University and his doctorate degree in geology in 1966 from the University of Illinois. He has received numerous international awards and honors and is the author of three books and more than 200 papers.
His recent research interests are in the areas of arid lands, water resources, energy policy, and environmental management.
Dr. El-Ashry is a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is listed in "American Men and Women of Science" and "Men of Achievement".
In 1983 he was honored as Air Conservationist of the Year by the Tennessee Conservation League for his role in TVA's air quality and acid rain efforts. In 1990 he was elected to membership in the Third World Academy of Sciences. He was honored by the Secretary General of UNCED for his contributions to the Earth Summit, and received the 1992 Egyptian-American Outstanding Achievement Award.
We have entered one of the most creative phases in human history. Science, technology, and communications are advancing at breathtaking speed and offering unmatched opportunities for responsible action. We have new tools and a vastly increased understanding that our strength lies in working together to overcome the threats facing our planet.
"EarthVoice has established its international leadership role by not only supporting its own programs, but also by building the capacity of global institutions to preserve the environment and create a more sustainable and humane world."
Resources on the Web
World Bank:
http://www.worldbank.org/
http://gefweb.org/participants/Secretariat/CEO/Denmark_Speech_June_11__2001.pdf
So my message today is this: renewable energy and energy efficiency are fundamental to sustainable development. What is more, they must be at the heart of any successful poverty alleviation strategy. (Innovative energy technologies and the global environment)
http://gefweb.org/participants/Secretariat/CEO/HannoverEngineers.doc
A leading role for the private sector in sustainable development should be further encouraged and nurtured. In this era of globalization, public-private partnerships and cooperation between private and public finance can go a long way towards addressing the ever-growing global environmental and social needs.
As we have also learned in the GEF, the challenges ahead of us cannot be categorized under headings as simple as environment or poverty or health. Doing so ignores how each affects the other, and hinders our abilities to find comprehensive and effective, long-term solutions. In my view, international cooperation towards sustainable development demands an understanding of the linkages between the health of the environment, the health of people, hunger and poverty alleviation.
Sustainable development takes money. Mohamed El-Ashry believes dedicated investment funds can provide a vehicle for securing the involvement of the private sector.
http://www.worldlink.co.uk/stories/storyReader$842
Public Statements and Speeches:
http://gefweb.org/participants/Secretariat/CEO/speeches.html
Interview with Dr Mohamed T El-Ashry: