One of the most high profile global policy roles as UN climate chief will be taken up by Simon Stiell, Grenada’s former minister for climate resilience and the environment, just months ahead of COP27 summit in Egypt.
The 53-year-old takes on the job as the executive secretary of the United Nations climate change secretariat, held since 2016 until this year by Patricia Espinosa, a former diplomat and foreign minister of Mexico, at a tumultuous time.
The appointment of “one of the Caribbean’s most dedicated climate champions” was widely welcomed by vulnerable and developing nations encouraged by how vocal he has been on their behalf. UN and youth representatives of Barbados, Ghana, Ethiopia and the Nigerian minister of environment were among those offering their congratulations.