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Maurice Strong

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Maurice Strong
Born (1929-04-29) 29 April 1929 (age 97)
Oak Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Died27 November 2015(2015-11-27) (aged 86)
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, diplomat
Years active1947–2015
Known forUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nations; inaugural executive director of UNEP; president of Petro-Canada; chairman of Ontario Hydro; Secretary General of the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment; Secretary General of the 1992 Earth Summit; president of University for Peace

Maurice Frederick Strong (April 29, 1929 – November 27, 2015) was a Canadian entrepreneur in the oil and mineral industries as well as a diplomat who held the position of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Strong launched his career in Alberta’s petroleum sector and held the presidency of Power Corporation of Canada until 1966. In the early 1970s, he served as Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and was appointed the inaugural executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Returning to Canada, he was CEO of Petro-Canada between 1976 and 1978. Subsequently, Strong led Ontario Hydro, one of the largest electricity utilities in North America, and chaired the Extension Committee for the World Alliance of YMCAs. He also presided over American Water Development Incorporated and was a commissioner for the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1986. The International Union for Conservation of Nature acknowledged him as a prominent figure in global environmental advocacy.

From 1998 until 2006, Strong held the presidency of the Council at the University for Peace. He was an honorary professor at Peking University, served as honorary chairman of its Environmental Foundation, and led the advisory board for the Institute for Research on Security and Sustainability for Northeast Asia. Strong passed away in 2015 at age 86.

Childhood and youth

Raised in poverty during the Great Depression in Oak Lake, Manitoba, a prairie town in Canada, Maurice Strong experienced early hardship. His father lost employment early in the Depression era and supported the family through various odd jobs, while his mother died in a mental institution. Reflecting on these experiences, Strong described the Depression as deeply influential, identifying himself as "a socialist in ideology, a capitalist in methodology." He left high school at age 14 without pursuing university education but went on to become CEO of several companies.

Business

At 19 years old, Strong started his career as a trainee with brokerage firm James Richardson & Sons, Limited in Winnipeg, concentrating on oil investments before transferring to Calgary. There, he joined Dome Petroleum under Jack Gallagher’s leadership, eventually becoming vice president of finance. In 1956, he established M.F. Strong Management to assist investors seeking opportunities within Alberta’s oil industry.

During the 1950s, Strong acquired Ajax Petroleum, a small natural gas company which he expanded into Norcen Resources—one of the sector’s leading firms. This success led him to an executive role at Power Corporation of Canada, where he served as executive vice president and president from 1961 to 1966.

At Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s invitation in 1976, Strong assumed leadership of national oil company Petro-Canada. He intended to run for office representing the Liberal Party of Canada in Scarborough Centre during the 1979 federal election but withdrew to return to private business by managing AZL Resources, an oil promotion company based in Denver that he had acquired.

As chairman and majority shareholder of AZL, Strong faced a lawsuit in 1981 regarding stock promotion related to an unsuccessful merger; under pressure from insurers, he settled for $4.2 million. AZL subsequently merged with Tosco Corporation, through which Strong obtained ownership of the Baca Ranch in Colorado—a site later used for his Manitou Foundation.

Strong also chaired the Canada Development Investment Corporation, overseeing significant government-owned enterprises, and became Chairman of Ontario Hydro in 1992.

Journalist Charles Lynch noted that Strong "generally performed better than many companies and organizations that engaged his expertise."

Although often rumored to have amassed billionaire status through his ventures, Strong himself stated in 2010 that he had "never come close" to such wealth levels.

American Water Development

On December 31, 1986, Strong established American Water Development Incorporated (AWDI), partnering with figures such as William Ruckelshaus, Richard Lamm, Samuel Belzberg, and Alexander Crutchfield Jr. AWDI submitted a proposal to the District Court for Water Division 3 in Alamosa, Colorado to extract groundwater from the Luis Maria Baca Grant No. 4 and additional properties in Saguache County, Colorado, located within the San Luis Valley. The plan aimed to supply water to districts along Colorado's Front Range Urban Corridor. This initiative encountered resistance from local holders of water rights, conservation agencies, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and the National Park Service, who raised concerns about the effects on existing water entitlements and environmental harm to wetlands and sand dune habitats. Following an extended legal battle concluding in 1992, the courts ruled against AWDI and mandated a payment of $3.1 million toward the legal expenses of the opposing parties. Strong departed from the company during this timeframe.

Molten Metal Technology

Maurice Strong held a directorship at Molten Metal Technology, Inc., an environmental technology enterprise founded in 1989 that specialized in converting hazardous waste into reusable materials. Between 1992 and 1995, the firm obtained nearly $25 million in research funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. Nevertheless, between March 28, 1995, and October 18, 1996, Molten Metal artificially boosted its stock value by issuing deceptive statements regarding its technological capabilities. As of March 11, 1996, Strong personally owned roughly 40,000 shares and controlled an additional 262,000 shares through a company he chaired. The company eventually declared bankruptcy; a class action lawsuit was resolved with an $11.8 million settlement without any admission of fault.

United Nations work

Strong began his tenure at the United Nations in 1947 as a junior security officer at UN headquarters located in Lake Success, New York, facilitated by Noah Monod, the inaugural UN Treasurer. Upon returning to Canada, he played a leading role in establishing the Canadian International Development Agency in 1968 with support from Lester B. Pearson.

Stockholm Conference

In 1971, Strong commissioned Only One Earth: The Care and Maintenance of a Small Planet, authored by Barbara Ward and Rene Dubos, which compiled findings from 152 specialists across 58 nations in preparation for the first UN environmental conference held in Stockholm in 1972. This publication represented the world’s first extensive evaluation of global environmental conditions.

The Stockholm Conference succeeded in integrating environmental issues into global development agendas and led to the UN General Assembly founding the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Strong was chosen as UNEP’s inaugural director, marking it as the first UN agency based within a developing country. He also organized the first international expert meeting focused on climate change.

Strong was appointed as a commissioner on the World Commission on Environment and Development, an independent body established by the UN in 1983.

Earth Summit

Before his advisory appointments, Strong played a pivotal role in coordinating U.N. famine relief efforts across Africa. This experience led to his selection as Secretary General for the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development—commonly known as the Earth Summit—which convened in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. While the conference participants endorsed key environmental principles, Strong criticized the inadequate financial backing, pointing out that less than 5% of the $125 billion he identified as essential for environmental initiatives in developing countries was actually committed. This assessment was echoed by then U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

Following the Earth Summit, Strong dedicated himself to advancing its agenda by founding the Earth Council, co-chairing the Earth Charter Commission, leading the World Resources Institute, and serving on multiple boards such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Stockholm Environment Institute. His longstanding involvement included a directorship at the World Economic Forum, senior advisory duties to the World Bank president, and consultancy roles with Toyota Motor Corporation, Harvard’s Center for International Development, and numerous organizations focused on sustainability.

In the corporate sector, Strong held chairmanship positions at CH2M Hill’s International Advisory Group, Strovest Holdings, Technology Development Inc., Zenon Environmental, Cosmos International, and China Carbon Corporation—complementing his extensive voluntary public service commitments.

Strong was influential in reshaping NGO attitudes toward the World Bank and contributed significantly to climate change discussions, reportedly inspiring former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. In 1999, he took charge of revitalizing the University for Peace in Costa Rica, tackling governance and financial challenges as chairman of its governing Council and serving as its first rector until his retirement in 2007.

Between 2003 and 2005, Strong acted as a personal envoy for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, facilitating humanitarian and development initiatives in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

University for Peace

Founded by the United Nations General Assembly in 1980, the University for Peace (UPEACE) appointed Maurice Strong as director in 1999. His leadership period was marked by disputes including the removal of Radio for Peace International (RFPI), the Earth Council’s exit in 2003, and the introduction of military training programs on campus. As a board member of the Earth Council—an international organization advancing environmental policies from the 1992 Earth Summit—Strong oversaw activities on land donated by Costa Rica. When plans to develop this land stalled, it was reportedly sold for $1.65 million. The Earth Council temporarily operated from UPEACE before relocating to Canada due to disagreements with local authorities over this transaction. RFPI was expelled in 2002 amid permit controversies which it contested; reports indicate UPEACE officials may have sought to suppress critical broadcasts by cutting electricity and installing fences.

2005 Oil-for-Food scandal

Investigations into the U.N.’s Oil-for-Food Programme in 2005 revealed that Maurice Strong had endorsed a payment of $988,885 made out to "Mr. M. Strong" in 1997, delivered by Tongsun Park—a businessman later convicted of bribing U.N. officials to benefit Saddam Hussein’s regime. Although Strong faced no charges, he resigned from his U.N. position, stating he wished to "step aside until the cloud was lifted."

The scandal exposed a tangled network of personal connections, public-private partnerships, trust funds, and loosely regulated financial channels within the U.N., areas where Strong had considerable involvement. He insisted all transactions were approved by U.S. authorities and denied any participation in corrupt activities related to Oil-for-Food. Subsequently, Strong moved to his apartment in Beijing, maintaining that his departure was due to diplomatic deadlock over North Korea rather than any scandal implications. The Volcker report found no evidence implicating him in Iraqi matters or misconduct connected to the program.

Tribute from the UN Secretary-General

As his tenure was drawing to a close, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan honored Maurice Strong with a tribute:


Subsequent Engagements

In 2010, Strong made the following statement:


For the 2012 Rio+20 conference, Strong played a role in shaping Only One Earth — the Long Road via Rio to Sustainable Development, which assessed forty years of environmental achievements and ongoing challenges. He participated in the event with travel costs funded by the United Nations Development Program.

Passing, Funeral, and Commemorative Events

Maurice Strong passed away at age 86 on November 27, 2015, in Ottawa, Ontario. His funeral took place in early December 2015, followed by a public memorial held near Parliament Hill in late January 2016. The memorial service was aired on CPAC (TV channel), featuring remarks from notable figures including James Wolfensohn, Adrienne Clarkson, John Ralston Saul, and Achim Steiner. Written tributes were also submitted by Mikhail Gorbachev, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and Kofi Annan.

Legacy

Though not striking in appearance, Strong was renowned for cultivating an "extraordinary network" that bridged various stakeholder groups. He openly acknowledged his frequently Machiavellian approach to political strategy. Within the environmental sector, he played a pivotal role in advocating for government financing and encouraging NGO involvement at global environmental forums.

Controversies

Strong encountered criticism stemming from his connections to the oil industry, which contrasted with his environmental advocacy. One of his enterprises, Desarrollos Ecológicos, constructed a $35 million luxury resort inside a protected wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica without obtaining necessary permits. This action drew rebuke from indigenous communities who viewed it as inconsistent with his conservation commitments.

Awards and Recognitions

Maurice Strong was honored with numerous awards, including 53 honorary doctorates and visiting academic appointments at seven universities.

Prominent Canadian accolades include:

Companion of the Order of Canada 1999
Order of Manitoba 2005
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal 1992
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012
Order of the Polar Star (Sweden) 1996
Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil) 1999
Commander of the Order of the Golden Ark (Netherlands) 1979

Additional distinctions include:

  • Appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada in 1992.
  • Recipient of the Public Welfare Medal from the US National Academy of Sciences—the first non-American to receive it—in 2003.
  • Awarded Simon Fraser University's Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue in 2002.
  • Honored with the Candlelight Award from Carriage House Center on Global Issues in 2002.
  • IKEA Environmental Award recipient in 1995.
  • Blue Planet Prize awarded by Asahi Glass Foundation in 1994.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding received in 1994.
  • International St. Francis Prize for the Environment bestowed in 1993.
  • Alexander Onassis Delphi Prize awarded in 1993.
  • Pearson Medal of Peace recipient in 1989.
  • Charles A. Lindbergh Award granted in 1981.
  • Henri Pittier Order of Venezuela received in 1977.
  • National Audubon Society Award earned in 1975.
  • Tyler Environmental Prize awarded in 1974.
  • Honorary doctorate conferred by Sir George Williams University (which later became Concordia University) in 1967.

He was also recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, honorary board member of the David Suzuki Foundation, Distinguished Fellow at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and held membership as a resident fellow of the American Philosophical Society.

The author John Ralston Saul dedicated his work Voltaire's Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason In The West to Maurice Strong.

Papers

The collection of Strong's documents is preserved within the Environmental Science and Public Policy Archives at Harvard Library.

See also

External links

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