Christiana Figueres on Tuesday officially stepped down from her role as executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Her exit was announced in February. “Today as I look back on the excitement of the last few years I realize that I am equally excited, if not more, for what is to come. I have seen optimism on climate change grow. I have seen momentum for climate action grow, and I have seen support for bold government agreement grow,” Figueres said in a farewell video posted Tuesday.
Figueres, who helped steer nearly 200 nations to the creation of the world’s first universal climate agreement in Paris in December 2015, will be replaced by Patricia Espinosa, a veteran diplomat who is currently Mexico’s ambassador to Germany. The outgoing executive secretary held the position for six years. “I have great hope for our future. With unprecedented cooperation by governments and unbelievable public support, we can transform social and economic growth and achieve our climate goals. We can protect the most vulnerable, lift people out of poverty, safeguard natural resources, and design an economy that meets the world’s needs for generations to come,” Figueres said.
Unconfirmed rumors suggest that Figueres may now launch a bid for the post of U.N. secretary general at the end of current Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s term at the close of the year.
