12.05.2007 - 08:00am ET

(CSRwire) VANCOUVER B.C. - December 5, 2007 - The GLOBE Foundation is pleased to confirm the participation of Achim Steiner, Executive Director for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as one of three exciting opening plenary session speakers at GLOBE 2008, to take place in Vancouver, British Columbia from March 12 - 14. Steiner will be joined by HRH Prince Philippe of Belgium and the Hon. Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, at the opening session of the GLOBE Conference, the 10th biennial event in the world renowned GLOBE Series. A world leader on environmental practices and climate change, Steiner will address the need for sustainable development policies and environmental management.

The GLOBE Series is one of North America’s top events on the business of the environment and is expected to host more than 10,000 people (including 2,000 conference delegates, 400 exhibitors, and 200 speakers) and dozens of international delegations from around the world. The event will focus on three main themes: Corporate Sustainability, Energy & Climate Change, and Building Better Cities.

About Achim Steiner

Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme as well as UN Under-Secretary-General since 2006, Achim Steiner has become a world leader in the areas of sustainable development policy and environmental management. Having worked with governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations across the world, Steiner has built up a professional reputation of innovation and excellence in terms of environmental management, earning him the nomination by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan into his current position. Steiner was unanimously elected by the UN General Assembly and will serve in his role until June 2010.

Although a German national, Steiner was born and raised in Brazil and later studied philosophy, political science, and economics at the University of Oxford, followed by his MA from the University of London, with specialization in development economics, regional planning, and international development and environment policy. Having worked with dozens of international organizations in different parts of the world, Steiner was the Senior Policy Advisor of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. In Southeast Asia, Steiner worked as Chief Technical Advisor on a program for the sustainable management of Mekong River watersheds and community-based natural resources management. In 1998, he was appointed Secretary-General of the World Commission on Dams, based in South Africa, where he coordinated a global policy process on dams and development.

An expert voice on climate change, Steiner serves on a number of international advisory boards, including the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED).

About GLOBE

GLOBE 2008 is produced by the GLOBE Foundation, an international consultancy in the business of the environment. GLOBE’s expertise lies in project management, event development, and management and consulting in the fields of environment and energy, urban development, and corporate responsibility. The GLOBE Foundation is North America's longest operating producer of environmental events, having produced the GLOBE series since 1993. All delegates who register prior to December 14, 2007 for this exciting event will receive $500 off of their full delegate package.

For further information, visit www.globe2008.ca

Introducing Auto Futuretech @ GLOBE 2008

Auto FutureTech is a first of a kind event bringing together an elite global gathering of representatives of the automotive and fuel sector's major stakeholders: OEMs, suppliers, financiers, oil and gas producers, electric utilities, labour unions, maintenance providers, insurance/reinsurance, agribusiness, civil society groups, and policy makers. Together parties will explore the key issues, challenges and opportunities confronting the global automotive industry over the coming decade. Auto FutureTech conference and trade fair will be held in conjunction with GLOBE 2008, March 12 - 14 in Vancouver. www.AutoFutureTech.com

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