Klaus Töpfer has earned enormous respect, both as a German government minister, handling portfolios such as environmental protection, town planning and construction, and in the international arena as the Executive Director of UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Programme . After studying economics at the Universities of Mainz, Frankfurt and Munster,... Read more
Klaus Töpfer has earned enormous respect, both as a German government minister, handling portfolios such as environmental protection, town planning and construction, and in the international arena as the Executive Director of UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Programme .
After studying economics at the Universities of Mainz, Frankfurt and Munster, he took a position in the state government of Saarland, as the head of the planning department. He lectured at several colleges, while pursuing development projects in Africa, the Middle East and South America.
A member of the CDU party, he was Chairman of the party in Saarland and was a member of the German government from 1990-1998.
Even in the 1970’s, Klaus Töpfer devoted himself to the question of environmental protection, as minister for environment and health in Rheinland-Pfalz. In 1985 he joined the government of Helmut Kohl as Minister for Environment and Reactor Safety.
When the government move from Bonn to Berlin ran into severe problems, his skills in handling a crisis were called for, so in 1994 he became the Minister for Construction and carried specific responsibility for the government move .
At the same time he was a member of the UN commission for development. From 1998 until 2006 he worked as executive director of the UN Environmental Programme based in Kenya and general director of the UN Nairobi office. After retiring from the UN, Töpfer started working as Professor of Environment and Sustainable Development at Tongji University in Shanghai, China.
From 2001 until 2010 Töpfer was a member of the German council for sustainable development (Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung). In 2009 he become founding director of the German Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, IASS. In 2010 Töpfer acted as the city of Shanghai’s advisor on the topic “future city” for the Expo 2010.
In 2011 the nuclear disaster of Fukushima shakes up the world. In consequence, the German government installs the Commission for Assured Energy Supply (Ethikkommission für sichere Energieversorgung) and assigns the chairmanship to Klaus Töpfer.
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You can book Klaus Toepfer through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Klaus's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Klaus Toepfer's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Klaus tailored to your event.
Klaus Toepfer speaks on Climate, Society & Education. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Klaus to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Klaus Toepfer for events worldwide, subject to Klaus's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Klaus Toepfer is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Klaus can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Klaus Toepfer on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Klaus can offer.
Klaus Toepfer delivers keynotes in German. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Klaus Toepfer's areas of expertise include Climate, Society & Education. To get a clear sense of Klaus's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Klaus Toepfer can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Climate, Society & Education is relevant. Details of Klaus's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Klaus Toepfer is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Klaus Toepfer, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Klaus's current availability for your dates.