Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Han Seung-Soo of Republic of Korea

 

Special Envoy on Disaster Risk Reduction and Water

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Han Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea as his Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Water.

Mr. Han will, on behalf of the Secretary-General, rally commitments from Member States, the private sector and civil society to support United Nations efforts on water-related disaster risk reduction.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and the post-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action.

With more than five decades of academic, political and diplomatic experience, Mr. Han was Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea from 2008 to 2009 and President of the fifty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly from 2001 to 2002.  Dedicated to implementing sustainable development worldwide, he served as Chairperson of the Global Green Growth Institute Governing Board and, from 2011 to 2012, was a member of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability before the Rio+20 Summit.

Mr. Han has previously served as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Climate Change, and has a deep understanding of climate change and its impact on the frequency and intensity of water-related disasters.  He is currently Chair of the High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters and a member of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.

The recipient of an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2004, he is a current member of the Club of Madrid.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record