Climate chief in bid for U.N.'s top job

Christiana Figueres.

United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres plans to announce her candidacy to be the next U.N. secretary-general, E&E has learned.

Figueres, who orchestrated a historic global climate change accord in Paris last year, steps down next month as head of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. She declined through a spokesman to comment, but multiple sources confirmed that Figueres intends to formally declare her interest in replacing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 7.

"She is definitely throwing her hat in the ring for secretary-general," one person with direct knowledge of Figueres' plans said.

Ban's term ends in December, and so far, 11 candidates are openly vying for the position of the world's top diplomat. Sources say Figueres in floating her candidacy has reached out to the diplomatic community, funders and the CEOs of major companies like Unilever and Ikea that played a major role in delivering climate commitments for the Paris deal.

Read the EandE Publishing story - “Christiana Figueres to make run for U.N. secretary-general.”