Bonn, 16 August 2022 (TDI): United Nations (UN) Chief, António Guterres has appointed Simon Stiell as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat based in Bonn, Germany.
📢 #ClimateChange news!
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed @simonstiell as the new Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change.
— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) August 15, 2022
Also read: Bonn Climate Change Conference Commences
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Bureau has endorsed the appointment made by the Secretary-General. According to a press release from the UN Chief’s office, Stiell will succeed Mexican Patricia Espinosa, for whose devotion and selfless service to the organization the Secretary-General is thankful.
Furthermore, the press release stated that Simon Stiell is a true champion for formulating creative approaches for the UN’s collective global response to the climate crisis. It further added, “Stiell brings to the position a unique skillset developed over a 33-year career, coupled with vast experience in bilateral, regional, and multilateral affairs.”
Moreover, Simon Stiell served as a senior minister in the Government of Grenada holding the portfolio of Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment for five years.
Additionally, Stiell also served as the Minister of State for Human Resource Development and the Environment, Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, and Junior Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forests, Fisheries, and the Environment.
As per the UN’s press release, Stiell’s career in the technology sector spanned some 14 years before he joined the government. During that time, he held senior executive positions in several leading businesses, from Silicon Valley-based start-ups to significant corporations like Nokia and GEC Plessey Telecommunications.
Remarks by the UNGA President
The UN General Assembly President, Abdulla Shahid congratulated Simon Stiell on his appointment as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat.
Moreover, the UNGA President looked forward to the continuous collaboration between the UN General Assembly and UNFCCC. Additionally, the President pledged to take immediate action to reverse the damage caused to the environment and to nature by mankind.
Congratulations to @simonstiell on his appointment as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat.
Look forward to continued collaboration between GA and @UNFCCC.
Lets act now to reverse the damage that we have done to nature and the environment. pic.twitter.com/NqFgv8XsAu
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) August 15, 2022
About the UNFCCC
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has 197 parties and almost universal membership. The UNFCCC reckons to be the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Along with that, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol is a pact that was also derived from the UNFCCC.
The aim of all agreements under UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.
