Welcoming the announcement that Simon Stiell has been appointed the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said:

“It is very good to have Simon Stiell’s appointment confirmed well ahead of COP27 and the world will hope he can prevent further momentum from ebbing out of the international negotiations. He arrives at a critical moment with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C almost slipping from the world’s grasp. Mr Stiell played an important role in the High Ambition Coalition that was critical in ensuring the strength of the landmark Paris Agreement. I hope he will increase the sense of urgency among countries and counter obstacles, such as the growing tensions between the world’s two largest emitters, China and the United States, and the ongoing energy crisis caused by the ruinous cost of fossil fuels. His experience as a politician in Grenada will no doubt have given him a deep appreciation of the huge and growing risks that climate change poses to developing countries. He must be tough with those countries, particularly the G20, who are failing to live up to their responsibilities.”

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