Mary Robinson chosen to lead climate change organisation

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson has been elected to lead an international organisation that is helping developing countries attract billions of dollars in investment to build cleaner, more sustainable economies and tackle climate change.

She will become the first woman to serve as President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), succeeding former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Her appointment follows a meeting of the organisation's member countries in Seoul, South Korea, last Friday.

She will take up the position at the beginning of 2027 for a two-year term.

The GGGI is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2012 to help developing countries achieve economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting natural resources and improving living standards.

Headquartered in Seoul, it works with 55 members and 30 partner countries and regional organisations, with programmes operating in more than 57 countries.

Its central objective is to demonstrate that economic development and environmental protection need not be competing priorities, and that the transition to a low-carbon economy can create employment, attract investment and help reduce poverty.

A major part of its work involves helping developing countries turn their climate commitments into practical policies and investment projects.

It provides technical and financial expertise to governments, helping them develop renewable energy projects, improve public transport, protect forests and other natural resources, and make their economies more resilient to climate change.

It also assists countries in attracting finance from international development banks, institutional investors and the private sector.

The organisation said it helped mobilise $4 billion in green investment commitments during 2025 alone and supported the adoption of 81 green growth policies.

It also said the cumulative value of green investment commitments mobilised through its activities since 2015 now exceeds $18 billion.

These figures represent investment commitments secured with its assistance, rather than money necessarily already spent or projects completed.

Among its activities, GGGI provided technical support for a $600 million green bond issued by the Colombian capital Bogotá last year to finance cleaner transport infrastructure.

It has also supported renewable energy development and climate adaptation projects in vulnerable Pacific island countries, including Fiji.

In a statement accompanying her appointment, Ms Robinson said the organisation's objectives were closely aligned with her longstanding commitment to climate justice.

"I believe that countries must accelerate the shift to sustainable, low-carbon economies while ensuring that the costs of this transition do not fall disproportionately on those least responsible for climate change," she said.

The former president, who also served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has consistently argued that the poorest countries and communities are suffering some of the most severe consequences of climate change, despite having contributed least to the greenhouse gas emissions responsible.

She said GGGI offered an opportunity to translate the principles of climate justice into practical action by creating green employment, strengthening resilience and building economies that benefit people as well as the environment.

Ms Robinson also emphasised the importance of ensuring that women participate fully in shaping climate solutions and benefit from the economic opportunities associated with the transition.

She called for stronger cooperation between governments, international institutions, businesses and civil society to mobilise investment and accelerate the development of cleaner energy systems.

The outgoing president and chair, Ban Ki-moon, welcomed her appointment, saying she had spent her career championing human rights and climate justice.

He said her leadership would help demonstrate that economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and social inclusion could advance together.

Ms Robinson's appointment comes as governments prepare for the COP31 UN climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, where the provision of finance to help poorer countries reduce emissions and adapt to climate change is expected to remain a major issue.