Klaus T�pfer is a German politician and environmental politics expert. From 1998 to 2006 he was executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. T�pfer studied economics in Mainz, Frankfurt and M�nster. In 1968 he earned his doctorate at the University of M�nster. After functioning as government official, professor and adviser on development politics he became minister for the Environment and Health in the regional government of Rhineland-Palatinate in 1985. In 1987 T�pfer became German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety under Chancellor Helmut Kohl. From 1994 to 1998 he served as Federal Minister for Regional Planning, Civil Engineering and Urban Development. He was member of the Bundestag from 1990 to 1998 and member of the Steering Committee of the CDU from 1992 to 1998. In 1998 T�pfer was appointed Under Secretary General of the United Nations, General director of the United Nations office in Nairobi and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. In June 2006 he was succeeded in this office by Achim Steiner. 

July 29th, 1938 in Wa?brzych  /  Died:   Jun 8th, 2024