Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Mary Robinson of Ireland

 

Special Envoy for Climate Change

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Mary Robinson of Ireland as his Special Envoy for Climate Change.  Building on her work on climate justice she will engage Heads of State and Governments around the world in order to mobilize political will and action, and raise ambition in advance of the 2014 Climate Summit that the Secretary-General is hosting in New York on 23 September 2014.  She will also provide strategic advice to the Secretary-General based on her consultations.

The Summit will be an important milestone to mobilize political commitment for the conclusion of a global agreement by 2015, as well as to spur enhanced action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilient communities.

In asking Ms. Robinson to take on this mandate, the Secretary-General commended her for her work as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, in particular for her efforts in bringing cohesion and international awareness to the challenges in the Great Lakes region.  With her international stature, she was able to galvanize the international community to support the efforts of the Great Lakes region in conflict resolution, socioeconomic development and mainstreaming of marginalized groups including women.

Mrs. Robinson brings with her more than four decades of political and diplomatic experience, including as President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997 and as a member of the Irish Senate from 1969 to 1989.  She was the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1394 of 18 March 2013.

For information media • not an official record