Great Concordian: Mohan Munasinghe, Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate

Mohan Munasinghe, MA 75, commands enormous respect in the areas of sustainable development and global peace.

With an academic background that includes Concordia, McGill University, Cambridge University and MIT, the physicist, engineer and economist has left an indelible mark on global environmental policy and research.

As vice-chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Munasinghe shared the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace with former Vice-President of the United States Al Gore. He was also awarded the 2021 Blue Planet Prize — known as the “environmental Nobel prize.”

Munasinghe is founder chairman of the non-profit Munasinghe Institute for Development (MIND), a UN-recognized research centre for climate change and sustainable development. With more than 120 scholarly books and 400 technical papers to his credit, the resident of Colombo, Sri Lanka, describes his life’s work helping the poor as “a childhood ambition.”

Perhaps most notably, Munasinghe’s legacy includes the concept of “sustainomics,” a transdisciplinary framework for making development more sustainable.

In the face of global threats to humanity like climate change and nuclear war, as well as disruptive technologies like AI, the Great Concordian displays a mix of pragmatism and optimism.

“We spend over $2 trillion on armaments, but only about $150 billion for poverty reduction, and even less for climate change,” says Munasinghe. “The resources are there, but the political will is not. Besides, technologies like AI can make the world far more sustainable, but they are also used for warfare.

“Thankfully, grassroots efforts led by empowered individuals, give me hope. We cannot wait for people at the top to act. We must balance the sustainable development triangle — economy, society, environment — as I proposed at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.”

When you reflect on your time as a Concordia student, what stands out?

Mohan Munasinghe: It was enjoyable, but required much hard work. I graduated with a PhD in solid-state physics from McGill in 1973, while registering for an MA in economics from Sir George Williams University. I graduated from Concordia in 1974, after the merger. I did all this while welcoming my first-born daughter and also working part-time for Professor Morido Inagaki, who was director of the International Institute of Quantitative Economics [IIQE] at Sir George.

I vividly recall the excitement as two prominent institutions, Sir George and Loyola College, came together. I recall, especially, a lively debate regarding the name of the new university, and John O’Brien, the first rector of Concordia whom I admired, asking me my opinion. I responded that Concordia was a very good compromise.

Another outstanding individual, friend and alter ego was my IIQE colleague, Gerry Gummersell, who sadly passed away from COVID in 2022.

What are some of the factors that have enabled your success?

MM: Concordia put me firmly on the path to helping the poor in the developing world. Inspired by Professor Inagaki and his teacher, Nobel laureate Jan Tinbergen [LLD 68], I entered the World Bank’s prestigious young professional program in 1975.

Another mentor was Professor Abdus Salam, a physics Nobel laureate and director of the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. On hearing of my World Bank success, he congratulated me but also said rather sadly — ‘What a loss to physics!’ — a very great compliment indeed!

Having diverse interests helped. Backpacking around five continents during my student days broadened my mind and made me an internationalist who enjoys different cultures, people and places. I like sports, having represented Sri Lanka in Junior Davis Cup tennis and still play regularly. Practicing tai chi and meditation for over 50 years built inner stability, and music provided relaxation — I currently sing with a jazz band every weekend.

What advice do you have for students who may want to follow in your footsteps?

MM: Focus on achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on the intertwined challenges of climate change and sustainable development. Solutions should be based on an approach that I call BIGG — balanced inclusive green growth — to reduce resource use while tackling poverty, without lowering living standards for the affluent.

As a lifelong campaigner for peace, I strongly urge students to take an interest in national and world affairs, and engage in anti-war activism — especially to outlaw nuclear weapons.

Finally, some very personal wisdom. Before harmonizing the world, we must harmonize ourselves, by balancing three elements: our minds (learning, career), our bodies (health, well-being), and social life (family, friends, community). We must replace greed, selfishness and violence with ethical, sustainable values like sharing and caring for others and the environment.

How does it feel to be a Great Concordian?

MM: I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the honour and privilege. Concordia opened up new opportunities and shaped my future 50 years ago. I feel a continued sense of commitment to be involved in the development of the Concordia community.

More broadly, I would just say my awards and recognition are not just one person’s achievements. I’m indebted to so many who have contributed generously to my intellectual development and emotional intelligence, including teachers, mentors, colleagues, family and friends — especially those at Concordia. And I continue to lecture and teach, well past retirement age, because our generation has left the young a problem-filled world, and we have an obligation to help them!