Inger Andersen

Inger La Cour Andersen

Inger La Cour Andersen is a Danish international development economist and environmental executive serving as United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Her second four-year term began on 15 June 2023 and is scheduled to end on 14 June 2027.

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About Inger Andersen

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Denmark · International development economist, Environmental executive, United Nations official

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Known for: Environmental sustainability; International development economics; Water, environment and sustainable development policy; Multilateral environmental governance
Country: Denmark

International development economist
Environmental executive
United Nations official

At a glance

Andersen has led the United Nations Environment Programme as its Executive Director since 15 June 2019.
The United Nations General Assembly confirmed her for a second four-year UNEP term beginning on 15 June 2023.
Before joining UNEP, she served as Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature from 2015 to 2019.
Her 15-year World Bank career included senior responsibility for sustainable development and for the Middle East and North Africa region.

Leadership of the UN Environment Programme

The United Nations General Assembly elected Andersen as UNEP Executive Director in February 2019, and her initial four-year term began on 15 June that year. She was confirmed for a further four-year term in January 2023, with the second term running from 15 June 2023 through 14 June 2027. The position carries the rank of United Nations Under-Secretary-General.

Environmental and conservation leadership

Immediately before UNEP, Andersen was Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, beginning her duties in January 2015 and serving until May 2019. Her work across IUCN and UNEP places environmental sustainability, conservation policy and multilateral environmental governance at the center of her public career.

International development career

Andersen spent 15 years at the World Bank, where her managerial work focused on water, the environment and sustainable development, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. She became Vice President for Sustainable Development in 2010 and subsequently served as Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region from 2011 to 2015.

Education and earlier UN service

Andersen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from London Metropolitan University North and a Master of Arts degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, specializing in development economics. Before joining the World Bank, she worked on drought, desertification and dryland issues with the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office and later held a UNDP regional environmental role for the Arab region. Official accounts differ over whether this earlier period of UN service lasted 12 or 15 years.

Timeline

2015-01-12 Began duties as Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
2019-02-20 Elected by the United Nations General Assembly as Executive Director of UNEP for an initial four-year term.
2019-06-15 Initial four-year term as UNEP Executive Director began.
2023-01-18 The United Nations General Assembly confirmed Andersen for a further four-year term as UNEP Executive Director.
2023-06-15 Her second term as UNEP Executive Director began and is scheduled to conclude on 14 June 2027.

Additional verified details

Current context

Andersen holds the roles of United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Her confirmed four-year term is scheduled to end on 14 June 2027. The reviewed official sources did not indicate a replacement or intervening change.

Biographical facts

Andersen is a Danish national.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from London Metropolitan University North and a Master of Arts degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, specializing in development economics.
During a 15-year World Bank career, her managerial work focused on water, environment and sustainable development, with particular attention to Africa and the Middle East.
In 2010, Andersen was named World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development and was also appointed head of the CGIAR Fund Council.
Before joining the World Bank, Andersen worked on drought, desertification and dryland issues with the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office and later held a UNDP regional environmental role for the Arab region.
Official UN and UNEP biographies describe Andersen as having more than 30 years of experience in international development economics, environmental sustainability and policymaking.

Connections

Affiliations

Affiliations associated with Inger Andersen.

United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director 2019-06-15–present
International Union for Conservation of Nature Director General 2015-01–2019-05
World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region 2011–2015
World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development 2010
World Bank 2011–2015