Mathias Cormann is the new chair of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Australian trumped, among others, former European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström. The appointment leads to criticism from environmental clubs such as Greenpeace because of Cormann’s climate background.
The OECD is a partnership between 36 countries around the world. The organization tries to study and coordinate social and economic policies. For example, the OECD countries are currently working on joint regulations to tax large tech companies.
Cormann, who will take over from José Angel Gurría from June, is tried and tested in Australian politics. The Belgian-born politician was Minister of Finance for seven years and a senator for thirteen years.
“It would be a privilege and an honor to lead the OECD,” the Australian wrote on Saturday a statement. Among other things, he emphasizes the need to work together to restore the world economy as soon as possible after the pandemic. The OECD must also lead “ambitious and effective climate policy” under its chairmanship.
Environmental organizations have stumbled on the latter point, because they believe that Cormann has shown in the past that he does not want to do much about climate change. For example, he was against a tax on CO2 emissions, a policy measure he called “a very expensive hoax”.
“This is a missed opportunity for the OECD to draw a line and boycott someone for their past of holding back climate policy,” Greenpeace International executive Jennifer Morgan said. BBC.
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