On 21 May 2026, UNU will host “Addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis”, a conversation with Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. The event will begin at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
UNEP defines the Triple Planetary Crisis as the interconnected threats of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. As the leading environmental authority within the United Nations system, UNEP works to address these challenges, which are driven by unsustainable human activity, through scientific advocacy and global policy. If left unaddressed, these critical environmental threats will have profound consequences for people, wildlife and ecosystems alike, undermining food and water security as well as economic stability.
For this conversation, Inger Andersen will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala for a discussion on the scale of these environmental challenges and the pathways forward. The conversation will also draw on UNEP’s efforts to tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis, such as advocating for the shift from a linear economy to a circular one that promotes clean energy, addresses plastic pollution and strengthens climate ambition and global cooperation.
This event is part of the UNU Conversation Series, which aims to foster audience participation. You are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 20 May at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
About the Speaker
Inger Andersen is the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Between 2015 and 2019, Ms. Andersen was the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Ms Andersen brings a passion for conservation and sustainable development with more than 40 years of experience in international development economics, environmental sustainability and policymaking, as well as in designing and implementing projects and generating on-the-ground impact. She has played a key role in supporting riparian countries on international water management and hydrodiplomacy. Ms. Andersen also held various leadership roles at the World Bank for 15 years including as Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa and Vice President for Sustainable Development and at the United Nations starting in 1987 at the UN Sudano-Sahelian Office working on drought and desertification issues.