19 February 2016: Several high-level leadership positions related to intergovernmental sustainable development policy will be filled in the coming months. Within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, there will be changes in the following positions: UNFCCC Executive Secretary; President of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC; and the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In addition, the selection processes for the next Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the next UN Secretary-General are underway.

On 12 February 2016, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres announced her intention to serve out her term as UNFCCC Executive Secretary, which expires on 6 July 2016, and not to accept an extension of her appointment. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will invite Parties to submit candidates for the post of the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, which, in recognition of the political significance of climate change, he has decided to elevate to the level of Under Secretary-General.

COP 21 President Laurent Fabius stepped down from the position on 15 February 2016, due to potential conflicts between his role as COP 21 President and his new appointment to serve as President of France’s Constitutional Council. On 18 February 2016, Ségolène Royal announced her appointment as President of COP 21. She will remain in the post until France hands over the COP Presidency to Morocco when COP 22 opens in Marrakesh on 7 November 2016.

On 19 February 2016, GCF Executive Director Héla Cheikhrouhou announced she will step down in September 2016, at the end of her current term as head of the Fund. The Fund’s first Executive Director, Cheikhrouhou set in motion GCF first resource mobilization process and oversaw the establishment of GCF’s headquarters in the Republic of Korea. GCF’s Board will discuss steps to appoint a successor at its 12th meeting from 8-10 March 2016.

In December 2015, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) President and the President of the Security Council sent a joint letter to all UN Member States that officially started the process of soliciting candidates leading to the selection and appointment of the next UN chief. The next UN Secretary-General will assume the role in January 2017.

The current term of Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, comes to an end in June 2016, and applications for his successor are currently under review. [UNFCCC Executive Secretary’s Message to Parties] [UNFCCC Executive Secretary’s Message to Non-Party Stakeholders] [UNFCCC Press Release] [COP 21/CMP 11 Press Release on Laurent Fabius] [COP 21/CMP 11 Press Release on Ségolène Royal] [GCF Press Release] [UN Press Release on the Selection Process of the UN Secretary-General] [UNEP Executive Director’s Webpage][UNEP Executive Director Job Vacancy Announcement] [UNFCCC Information Note][UNFCCC ES Job Vacancy Announcement]