UNFCCC appoints Simon Stiell as new Executive Secretary

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Simon Stiell as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat based in Bonn, Germany. The appointment has been endorsed by the Bureau of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Cristina Figueres, who was Executive Secretary from 2010-2016 and oversaw the 2015 Paris agreement, took to social media to congratulate Mr Stiell, saying: '@antonioguterres’ choice for UNFCCC underscores the deepening vulnerabilities from insufficient #ClimateAction. Congrats @simonstiell.. Time for everyone to renew and increase all efforts. #ClimateEmergency #ClimateCrisis.

From March 2013 to June 2022, Simon Stiell served as a senior minister in the Government of Grenada holding the portfolios of Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment for five years. He also served as Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Minister of State with responsibility for Human Resource Development and the Environment, and as a junior minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Mr. Stiell served as member of Grenada’s Upper House of Parliament, the Senate, where he held the position of Leader of Government’s Business throughout this period.

Prior to his return to Grenada, Simon Stiell had a successful career spanning fourteen years within the technology sector, holding senior executive positions in a number of industry leading companies, from Silicon Valley based technology start-ups, to major corporations including Nokia and G.E.C. 

Mr. Stiell will succeed Patricia Espinosa of Mexico to whom the UN has said the Secretary-General is grateful for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.