Brian Mulroney

The Right Honorable Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada (1984 – 93), played a significant role in the founding of IISD. It was in 1988 that he announced its creation at the United Nations, promising “Mankind is not destined to destroy itself; war is not inevitable; poverty can be alleviated; the environment can be preserved; injustices can be made right.”

These powerful words have continued to drive IISD for more than 30 years, as we strive to fulfill this commitment and create a world where people and the planet thrive.

In 1987, Mulroney played an integral role in convincing more than 40 world leaders to drastically cut the use of ozone-destroying CFCs, signing what would become known as the Montreal Protocol (since then, more than 150 other nations have signed the treaty).

A year later, he hosted the landmark World Climate Change Conference in Toronto, a conference that represented a major stepping stone in getting climate change on the global agenda. And in 1991, Mulroney signed the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement with President George H. W. Bush to reduce pollution caused by acid rain.