Green Cross International is an environmentalist organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993. Today, member organisations are in 30 countries. Its primary mission is to "respond to the combined challenges of security, poverty, and environmental degradation to ensure a sustainable and secure future".
 | |
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Environmental organisation |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | William Bridge, Chairman[1] |
| Website | www |
William Bridge serves both as Chairman of Green Cross International and CEO of Global Green USA.[2]
Green Cross International was founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993,[3] building upon the work started by the 1992 Earth SummitinRio de Janeiro, Brazil.[4] On 6 June 1992, the Rio Earth Summit delegates asked Gorbachev to establish Green Cross International, and around the same time, Swiss National Council MP Roland Wiederkehr founded "World Green Cross", with similar aims. The two organisations merged in 1993, becoming Green Cross International, which was formally launched in Kyoto, Japan, on 18 April 1993.[3]
In 1994, the first Green Cross National Organisations (GCNOs) joined GCI in The Hague, including Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, and the United States.[3]
The initial concept envisaged an international body to provide assistance to countries in ecological trouble.[citation needed]
The organisation's stated mission is to:[5]
Other organisations are affiliated with GCI in 30 countries.[3]
GCI holds these statuses:[3]