Secretary-General Appoints Ligia Noronha of India to Head United Nations Environment Programme’s New York Office

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Ligia Noronha of India as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

She will succeed Satya Tripathi of India, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his leadership and dedicated service during his tenure.

Ms. Noronha is an economist with more than 30 years of international experience in the field of sustainable development.  She has worked since 2014 as Director of UNEP’s Economy Division based in Nairobi, leading UNEP’s work on climate mitigation and energy transitions; on inclusive green economies, sustainable consumption and production; as well as on trade and sustainable finance, and the nexus of environment, pollution and health.

Before joining UNEP, Ms. Noronha worked at The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi as Executive Director (Research Coordination) and Director of the Division on Resources, Regulation and Global Security.  She served as Secretary of the Asian Energy Institute and as Coordinator of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnerships, South Asia, and worked with Canada’s International Development Research Centre on ecosystem approaches to human health.

Ms. Noronha is a member of various boards, expert panels and advisory committees on ecosystems, natural resources, minerals and metal, including the Government of India’s National Security Advisory Board on matters relating to resources, energy and climate security.

She holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Mumbai, as well as a master’s in sea‑use law, economics and policy and a PhD from the London School of Economics.