The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
has formally announced the appointment of Patricia Espinosa as Executive
Secretary of the UNFCCC.
It follows backing for his
recommendation by the Bureau of the UNFCCC who met in Bonn, Germany on 15 May
ahead of ongoing meetings to advance the aims and ambitions of the new
universal climate agreement adopted in Paris last year.
Ms. Espinosa is currently Mexico's
Ambassador to Germany and replaces UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana
Figueres, who will step down from her post in July after six years at the helm.
The incoming Executive Secretary said:
“I am very grateful and honored by
this appointment by the United Nations Secretary General, and very thankful to
the Parties of the UNFCCC for their vote of confidence. Furthermore, I am
humbled by the opportunity to serve Parties in this process and to support all
actors in tackling this great challenge: to protect the climate of our planet,
in order to avoid disastrous consequences, while seizing the opportunities for
sustainable development for all based on a global transition to a low-emissions
economy and a resilient world.
I stand ready to work with all
governments - as well with all other stakeholders - to realize the
inspiring aims and ambitions of the new UN climate agreement adopted in Paris last
December. This is the time for implementation and action - action that science
informs us must be swift, decisive and sustained. I also would like to
congratulate my dear friend and out-going Executive Secretary, Christiana
Figueres, for her extraordinary work and achievements of the past six years.”
Welcoming the appointment, Ms.
Figueres said: “I consider Patricia Espinosa the right person at the right time
for advancing the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement”.
“Her wealth of experience, hands-on
understanding of the international climate process and her firm grasp of the
crucial link between climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals will
be a huge asset for advancing these crucial agendas over the years to come.”
Ms.
Espinosa has more than 30 years of experience at highest levels in
international relations, specializing in climate change, global governance,
sustainable development and protection of human rights.
Since 2012, she has been serving as
Ambassador of Mexico to Germany, a position she also held from 2001 to 2002.
She previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico from 2006 to
2012.
Ms. Espinosa will assume her new
position a few days after Ms. Figueres leaves office in July, well ahead of the
UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech in November where governments will
take the next crucial steps to implement the Paris Climate Change Agreement and
ramp up immediate ambition to tackle climate change.
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