A Closer Look at the Latin American Women That Could Lead the United Nations Guy Edwards - Americas Quarterly
go to original July 12, 2016

In a packed field of candidates, Christiana Figueres’ climate leadership could be a boon to her candidacy for UN Secretary-General. (Flickr)

Christiana Figueres doesn’t drink coffee. The Costa Rican told AQ that despite hailing from a major exporter of the world’s favorite bean, she bounces around perfectly well without it. After witnessing her formidable leadership as head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat for the past six years, it is hard to disagree.

On July 5, Figueres concluded her tenure as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, where she helped secure the adoption of the Paris Agreement last December. Just two days later her candidacy for UN Secretary-General was officially launched in San José at an event attended by Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solís.   

Figueres enters a packed field with 11 other candidates already brandishing their credentials and embarking on intense lobbying. But despite the crowded field, she is a strong contender for the post.

As various crises rock the world, highlighting the often impotent response of the international community, Figueres has proven she can deliver positive results for multilateralism. Her invaluable role in facilitating the adoption of the Paris Agreement by 195 countries last year was one of her crowning achievements.

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