He has worked both at the grass-roots level and at the highest levels of international policymaking to address the interface between environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic development.

His professional career has included assignments with Governmental and non-governmental, as well as international organizations. In Washington, he was Senior Policy Adviser of the IUCN Global Policy Unit. In 2001, he was appointed Director-General of the World Conservation Union.  In South-East Asia, he worked as Chief Technical Adviser on a programme for 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.

His professional track record in the fields of sustainable development policy and environmental management, his first-hand knowledge of civil society, governmental and international organizations, as well as his global experience spanning five continents make him an excellent choice to lead the United Nations Environment Programme.

Mr. Steiner serves on a number of international advisory boards, including the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) and the Environmental Advisory Council (ENVAC) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).