Ban Ki-moon on Global Leadership
An interview with the former Secretary General of the United Nations
After a decade-long tenure as the world’s top diplomat, former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon returned to Harvard Kennedy School this spring as an Angelopolous Global Public Leaders Fellow.
- The experiences that drove him to pursue public service as a young man, including a high school encounter with John F. Kennedy
- What sets the most effective world leaders apart
- Climate change’s oft-overlooked connection to violent conflict
- His reaction to the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement
- His advice for young people who are eager to make the world better and more prosperous
You’ve had a lengthy career in public service dating back to your time in the South Korean Diplomatic Corps. Did you always know that you wanted to pursue public service?
The idea that I really wanted to pursue public service came from the reality that I was living in. I was born before the end of second World War. Then just after independence five years later, the Korean War broke out. That was one of the most tragic, fratricidal wars in history. Then after everything was devastated in Korea, while studying in high school, I was thinking, “What could be the best way for me to contribute to the reconstruction of Korea?” That was real hard question. Then I thought that I needed to work for the government.
At that time, there were not many industries or companies. They really depended upon the government leadership. I applied for a position as a diplomat because I really wanted to expand Korea’s network with foreign countries. Korea had been receiving massive foreign assistance, particularly from the United States and through the United Nations. That really made me believe that, through diplomacy, we could really help reconstruct Korea and prosper.
There’s a wonderful photo of you in high school watching John F. Kennedy give an address. What was the message he delivered and did it resonate with you?
Looking back, even after completing my job as Secretary General for ten years, I think I have been quite a low key man, who has been living under the spirit of John F. Kennedy. I never expected that I would be able to meet, as a high school boy, then US President John F. Kennedy. He was very popular worldwide at that time. I was invited by American National Red Cross Society. At that time, I was acting as Chairman of my high school Red Cross Club. So I’d been engaging in humanitarian work.
I was one of 120 foreign students who had been invited by the American Red Cross Society, and after touring around some cities and learning much more about what the American Red Cross and American people were doing for humanitarian support, we all assembled in Washington, D.C.. One day, August 29th, 1962 to be exact, we were invited to the Rose Garden of the White House. There we met President John F. Kennedy.
I still vividly remember. After calling the names of the countries, we raised our hands. Then he said, “During this Cold War era, the world leaders do not get along well, but you young people, you can get along well, regardless of what ideology you have.” Even at a time in the height of Cold War, he said, “National boundaries do not have much meaning now. The question is whether you are willing to extend your helping hands.” That was quite inspiring. Even at that time he was thinking about how the United States and how the Red Cross can help those people who are in need of assistance — and people who are in need of life saving support. That spirit has always lived with me.
Even at the height of Cold War, [JFK] said, “National boundaries do not have much meaning now. The question is whether you are willing to extend your helping hands.”
This humanitarian and human rights issue is one of the three pillars of the United Nations. Not only the United Nations, but all member states of the United Nations should be ready to extend their helping hands. There are so many poor people. For example, 65 million people are now refugees. There were only 11 million just in 2007 when I began. In ten year’s time, this number has grown by six times. It’s a huge challenge because of continuing conflicts.
You’ve dealt with a tremendous number of world leaders. Are there any qualities that you find stand out among people who are at the top? Are there things that make them more effective in their positions?
I have been meeting many hundreds of leaders. What I have noticed and observed is that normally leaders have passions, very dynamic passions and energetic passions, but not many have compassionate leadership. I’ve been urging leaders, “You must have both qualities: passion and compassion.” When you only exercise passion, you may not know where you are going. Compassion and leadership should go together. That’s what I have been urging world leaders.
When you only exercise passion, you may not know where you are going. Then compassion and leadership should go together. That’s what I have been urging world leaders.
And I have even been telling this story to many young people who will soon be joining the real world and who will soon be taking leadership roles in various aspects of our life, political, public, business, and civil societies. It’s important that we need to have both passion and compassion.
Things have improved over the last century, but, as you stated with the refugee figure, there are still significant problems. Your successor now takes on a lot of those problems. What kind of advice did you give him when you stepped aside?
It’s clear and it’s true that awareness about values like human rights, democratic principles, good governance, accountability, transparency, and gender empowerment has been raised significantly. That does not mean that people have been practicing that way. I have been one of the vocal leaders in speaking out for the good governance and human rights and gender empowerment, but there are still many areas where we see a dark side that’s still prevailing. That’s what the United Nations really has been trying to improve, if not completely eliminate. That’s the goal of the United Nations.
I sincerely hope that countries like United States, the most resourceful and powerful — a strong believer in democratic values — that should lead the global campaign.
Unfortunately we have seen, not only in this country but around the world, even in European countries, an increasing tendency of looking inside rather than outside. This is nationalism. Divisions among people, among different ethnic groups and races, or divisions among religions and faith. That’s quite worrisome at this time. I really count on academic institutions, students, political leaders, and business leaders of the United States and other democratic countries, to really work together in making this world much healthier in values.
One of the largest challenges that you took on in your tenure was global climate change. One of the major concerns with climate change is its ability to influence more conflict. Is it inevitable that a warming climate will lead to more conflict?
People seem to think that climate change is only an environmental issue, but it also affects a lot of political issues. Sometimes it becomes a main source of conflict. If we do not stop this continuing rise in global warming temperature by the end of this century, under 2º Celsius, then you will continue to see very extreme weather patterns, which will affect all spectrums of our life.
Why then is climate change so important in conflict prevention? For example, you’ve heard a lot about the Darfur crisis where millions of people have been killed. Of course there have been political differences. There have been differences in ethnicities. But if you look at the underlying problems, there’s always a tendency to search for better resources, like water. When they have a huge number of livestock who need pastoral land for grazing, and need drinking water, then they are going to move. Millions of people are moving in search of a better place, in search of water. Water becomes a source of conflict.
This is a very small planet earth. We don’t have any Plan B because we do not have any Planet B.
This is not only in Darfur, but many other places. That’s why I took up climate change as the number one priority during my tenure as Secretary General. People seem to think they have two planet earths the way they consume and abuse our privilege to live with nature, but unfortunately we have only one planet earth. This is a very small planet earth. I’ve been using a metaphor saying that we don’t have any Plan B because we do not have any Planet B.
I’m afraid and I’m deeply concerned about what is happening in the United States. The US had been leading this campaign together with the United Nations and China. The two biggest greenhouse gas-emitting countries, who combined account for 44% of global greenhouse gas emissions. I sincerely hope that the United States will return to the Paris Agreement. This has nothing to do with domestic politics. It‘s not only about US citizens. This is about global citizens. 7.3 billion people together with our planet earth. Our home. To live, we will have to live harmoniously with our nature.
We cannot negotiate with nature.
Nature goes its own way. We cannot hold it back. It goes its own way. We cannot negotiate with nature. We have many tools to address this phenomenon. First of all, reduce significantly greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The United States should reduce 26-28% of greenhouse gas emissions, compared with 2005 levels. That’s their commitment, declared and agreed upon by the whole world’s people. That should be done.
It goes back to the Kennedy connection. As he said, “For in the final analysis, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children’s future, and in the end we’re all mortal.”
Yes, that’s right.
When you heard President Trump’s announcement that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, what were your initial thoughts and how do you think we can move forward from that?
While I was deeply concerned and worried, at the same time I’m encouraged by the very strong commitment and continuing commitment of all the rest of the countries, and even particularly in this country. People organized. We are still in movement. It includes many states like California, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon… at least dozen states. And more than 200 mayors have they declared that, “Regardless of what happened by President Trump, we will move on.” 900 business have declared that, “We are going on.” Altogether, I think they account for $6.2 trillion in economic strength. Then there are many other countries around the world. Most of the countries are moving on. I think this strong commitment will be reconfirmed at the Paris conference by adopting a global pact to continue to move on. It’s a matter of our future, and also the future of our succeeding generations, and our earth, planet earth. One should have a global mind, global vision.
You’re hopeful that we will make progress despite the setback?
I think so. I’m optimistic that we will move on, but we will still urge that the United States return to this process.
We must act as global citizens to make this world better, and healthier, and more prosperous. That’s our moral and political responsibility at this time.
You spoke about Kennedy’s address urging young people to reach out a helping hand. Now you’re in Kennedy’s shoes - you’re in the position to influence young people as you’ve been doing here at the Kennedy School. What kind of advice are you giving?
I’ll speak out again for the support of humanity. And strong, compassionate leadership. And global vision, particularly for young people. The United States is very important, and my home country Korea, is also very important. But we are just one family member of a small planet earth. The national boundaries are not important. With the transformative development of technology, particularly in communications, information, and transportation, whatever you say, whatever you do, can be delivered instantly to the end of our world. Therefore, we must act as a global citizen to make this world better and healthier and more prosperous. That’s our moral and political responsibility at this time.
Thank you so much for coming on the show today.
Thank you. It has been a great pleasure. Let us work together to make this world better for all.
This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
HKS PolicyCast is the official podcast of Harvard Kennedy School, featuring weekly interviews with scholars and leading practitioners in public policy, leadership, and international affairs. It is hosted by filmmaker, writer, and policy wonk Matt Cadwallader.
