Green Cross International

Ensure a sustainable and secure future by transforming standards across governments, the private sector, and civil society

Green Cross International

Our Foundation

Green Cross International (GCI) is a leading global environmental organisation (NGO|NPO) founded on the conviction that peace, poverty eradication, and planetary health are inextricably linked. Established by former Soviet leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev, we grew from his post-Cold War vision to apply the urgency and cooperation of nuclear disarmament to the escalating ecological crisis.

Formally launched in Kyoto, Japan, on 18 April 1993, and headquartered in the diplomatic hub of Geneva, GCI operates as a federation of independent national organisations. This unique model empowers action in over 25 countries, combining deep local expertise with a unified global strategy to address the root causes of environmental insecurity.

Our Mission

The mission of Green Cross International is to respond to the interconnected challenges of security, poverty and environmental degradation to ensure a sustainable and secure future. We seek solutions through dialogue, mediation and co-operation.

We achieve this by:

• Advocating for Change: Promoting legal, ethical and behavioural norms to foster the basic shifts in values, actions and attitudes of government, the private sector and civil society needed to build a sustainable global community.

• Preventing Conflict: Contributing to the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising from environmental degradation and resource scarcity.

• Delivering Assistance: Providing aid and support to people affected by the environmental consequences of wars, conflicts, and human-made calamities.

Our Network for Local Impact

Our strength lies in our decentralised yet coordinated network of National Organisations. Each tailors initiatives to its regional challenges—from water conflict mediation to community health programmes—while contributing to our international pillars of work:

1. Water for Life and Peace: Promoting cooperation over shared waters and securing equitable access.

2. Environmental Security & Sustainability: Restoring ecosystems and building resilience to environmental hazards. Promoting Nuclear Disarmament.

3. Social & Medical Care: Addressing the profound health impacts of pollution and ecological degradation.

4. Smart Energy & Climate: Advancing a just transition to clean energy and climate adaptation.

5. Value Change: Cultivating the ethical and behavioural shift needed for a sustainable future.

Our actions are anchored in the holistic principles of the Earth Charter and directly advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our Key Strategic Partners

United Nations:

• Consultative Status: ECOSOC and UNESCO

• Observer Status: UNFCCC and UNCCD

• Active Collaboration: UNEP, UN-HABITAT, OCHA

Strategic Partners:

• Earth Charter International

• The Club of Rome

• IFRC

• WWF

• EarthX

• The World Bank

Subscribe to our newsletter