Mostafa Kamal Tolba
Encyclopedia
Mostafa Kamal Tolba (born in 1922) is an Egypt
ian scientist most famous for his 17-year tenure as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP).
Born in the town of Zifta
(located in Gharbia Governorate), Tolba graduated from Cairo University
in 1943, and obtained a PhD
from Imperial College London
five years later. He established his own school in microbiology
at Cairo University's Faculty of Science, and also taught at the University of Baghdad
during the 1950s. In addition to his academic career, Tolba worked in the Egyptian civil service. After serving a brief stint as President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee
(1971–1972), Tolba led Egypt's delegation to the landmark 1972 Stockholm Conference
, which established the United Nations Environment Programme. Tolba became UNEP's Deputy Executive Director right after the conference, and two years later was promoted to Executive Director. During his long tenure (1975–1992), he played an important role in the fight against ozone depletion
, which culminated with the Vienna Convention
(1985) and the Montreal Protocol
(1987).
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian scientist most famous for his 17-year tenure as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
(UNEP).
Born in the town of Zifta
Zifta
Zifta: is an Egyptian town in the Nile delta, belongs to Gharbia governorate. It is across the nile from Mit Ghamr city of Ad Daqahliyah governorate.-History:...
(located in Gharbia Governorate), Tolba graduated from Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
in 1943, and obtained a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
five years later. He established his own school in microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
at Cairo University's Faculty of Science, and also taught at the University of Baghdad
University of Baghdad
The University of Baghdad is the largest university in Iraq and the second largest Arab university following the University of Cairo.- Nomenclature :Both University of Baghdad and Baghdad University are used interchangeably....
during the 1950s. In addition to his academic career, Tolba worked in the Egyptian civil service. After serving a brief stint as President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee
Egyptian Olympic Committee
The Egyptian Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization serving as the National Olympic Committee of Egypt and a part of the International Olympic Committee. It was formed in 1910, with the symbolic participation of Egypt in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games...
(1971–1972), Tolba led Egypt's delegation to the landmark 1972 Stockholm Conference
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was an international conference convened under United Nations auspices held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 5–16, 1972...
, which established the United Nations Environment Programme. Tolba became UNEP's Deputy Executive Director right after the conference, and two years later was promoted to Executive Director. During his long tenure (1975–1992), he played an important role in the fight against ozone depletion
Ozone depletion
Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere , and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon...
, which culminated with the Vienna Convention
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is a Multilateral Environmental Agreement. It was agreed upon at the Vienna Conference of 1985 and entered into force in 1988....
(1985) and the Montreal Protocol
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion...
(1987).