Erik Solheim is a well known global leader on environment and development as well as an experienced peace negotiator. He served as Norwegian minister of Environment and International Development from 2005-12. During that period he initiated the global program for conservation of rainforests and brought through game changing National legislation – among them the Biodiversity Act and legislation to protect Oslo city forests. He brought Norwegian development assistance to 1%, the highest in the world.

Erik has been chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (the main body of world donors) as well as Executive Director of UN Environment. He led the peace efforts in Sri Lanka as the main negotiator of the peace process and played a vital role in peace efforts in Nepal, Myanmar and Sudan.

Currently he is senior adviser at World Resources Institute and President of the Belt and Road Green Development Institute in Beijing. Erik is Chief Mentor of Global Alliance for Sustainable Planet and Chairman of the Board of Afroz Shah Foundation in Mumbai. He is adviser to April/RGE worlds largest paper and pulp company in Indonesia and to Aker Horizons, Norways leading green industry player. He serves as cochair of Treelion a green blockchain company in Hong Kong.