19 Facts About Rolph Payet

Rolph Payet was Minister of Environment and Energy in the Cabinet of Seychelles from 2012 to 2014.

Rolph Payet is currently United Nations Executive Secretary for the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention.

Rolph Payet grew up in Rochon, a suburb of the capital, Victoria.

Rolph Payet attended Seychelles College, then Mont Fleuri School, completed two years of National Youth Service in Seychelles.

Rolph Payet grew up falling in love with the environment, and after numerous expeditions to islands such as Cerf and Silhouette, decided on a career in environment.

Rolph Payet was educated at the University of East Anglia, University of Surrey, University of Ulster, the University of London, and the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Rolph Payet received his PhD from Linnaeus University in Environmental Science, where he undertook multidisciplinary research in sustainable tourism.

Rolph Payet was instrumental in addressing Small Island Developing States issues and in implementing appropriate strategies, institutions and capacity in Seychelles to address these emerging global environmental issues.

Rolph Payet is Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr James Michel, since 2007.

Dr Rolph Payet has been instrumental in increasing the visibility and impact of numerous regional and international organisations such as the International Coral Reef Initiative, the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, and the Interim Coordinator of the Nairobi Convention UNEP Regional Seas Programme.

Rolph Payet is periodically invited by the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, to speak at various UN forums, including the UN General Assembly.

Rolph Payet's work has been covered by the international media, such as CNN and the BBC.

Rolph Payet is an elected Central Committee Member of the ruling socialist People's Party and has been active in the social and political life of his party.

Rolph Payet has received numerous international awards and recognition for his work on islands, climate change and biodiversity.

Rolph Payet is known for his ability to bring together the various disciplines - natural science, economics and business - to innovate solutions for environmental problems.

Rolph Payet is a lead author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and was involved with the Third and Fourth Assessment Reports.

Rolph Payet has published numerous peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and one book.

In January 2007, Rolph Payet was selected a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Rolph Payet received an honorary doctorate from the University of London in March 2016.