Patrick Verkooijen
Patrick V. D. J. Verkooijen is a Dutch executive and academic who serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation and the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi.He is known for work on climate adaptation in international development, finance, and governance, and climate resilience in public policy and investment.
Education
Verkooijen holds a PhD from Wageningen University, an MPA from Harvard University, a Master of Science degree in Social and Political Philosophy from the University of Amsterdam, and an environmental engineering degree from HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht.Career
Early career and World Bank
Verkooijen previously worked at the World Bank Group, where he served as Special Representative for Climate Change.Global Commission on Adaptation
Verkooijen led the Global Commission on Adaptation, an initiative launched in 2018 with Ban Ki-moon, Kristalina Georgieva and Bill Gates.The Commission’s 2019 flagship report, Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience, argued that investment in climate adaptation could reduce human and economic losses from climate impacts. The report received coverage in international media, including The Guardian, BBC, and Reuters, and was cited in policy discussions by governments and international organisations.
Academic roles
Verkooijen is the Distinguished Chair of The Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi, And served as the Ban Ki-moon Chair on Climate Adaptation Governance at the University of Groningen.He also served as Professor of Sustainable Development Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University from 2012 2018
In 2024, Verkooijen was appointed by William Ruto, President of Kenya, as Chancellor of the University of Nairobi. as Chancellor of the University of Nairobi announced a set of institutional reforms branded as the “Big 5” initiatives described to strengthen governance, innovation, and global engagement.
In October 2024, at Tsinghua University, Verkooijen led the launch of Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day, an initiative designed to mobilize young people as drivers of practical climate adaptation solutions.
Controversies
Kenyan state banquet faux pas
On March 18, 2025, Kenyan President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto hosted a state banquet at State House in Nairobi in honor of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.President Ruto concluded his own speech by introducing Verkooijen as a surprise speaker. He delivered a speech praising President Ruto's accomplishments, which drew criticism over human rights concerns in Kenya. King Willem-Alexander later stated that while the Netherlands would follow established protocol, other nations were free to do otherwise. Dutch media reported that the incident caused significant irritation within Dutch government circles.Overstating GCA accomplishments
In October 2025, the Verkooijen-led Global Center on Adaptation was the subject of a major controversy involving fabricated and exaggerated results. Over a period of six months, NOS, the Dutch public broadcaster, investigated the Global Center on Adaptation, speaking with more than 70 individuals involved both domestically and internationally. In addition, hundreds of documents were reviewed, finding and concluding that the GCA was taking credit for other people’s work. NOS claims the GCA exaggerated its own contributions to projects, with Verkooijen’s office claiming to have initiated $25 billion in investments, which supposedly benefited more than 82.5 million people and created jobs for 900,000 people, while operating on an annual budget of just €23 million. NOS further urges that GCA falsely claimed to be part of at least 18 World Bank projects citing statements from the World Bank that there are no records of the GCA's involvement in any projects. The NOS spoke with more than 20 former employees of the GCA, claiming that Verkooijen personally exerted pressure to exaggerate results in order to secure donor funding. Verkooijen also claimed that Norway and Denmark would be increasing their support for the GCA in the near future, despite both countries denying this.After a report by NOS, the GCA announced that it had reviewed its governance and reporting practices and was working with external partners to clarify its methodologies and oversight arrangements.