Q&A: Where do the UN secretary general candidates stand on climate change?
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Candidates are being nominated to take over as the UN secretary general, when António Guterres steps down after nearly a decade in the role at the end of 2026.
Since becoming the ninth secretary general on 1 January 2017, Guterres has been a strong advocate for climate action, saying in January 2026: “We have been outspoken on the urgent need for climate action, demanding ambition and working to rally governments, businesses and civil society.” According to the UN, his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, also “fought tirelessly to ensure that climate change stays at the top of the leaders’ agendas”. Following a call for nominations going out in November last year, member states are currently nominating candidates to be the next secretary general. To date, six candidates have been nominated by UN member states, with more expected in the coming months. Below, Carbon Brief looks at the candidates’ views on climate change.
The UN charter describes the secretary general as the organisation’s “chief administrative officer”. According to the UN, they are a “symbol of UN ideals and a spokesperson for the interests of the world’s peoples, in particular the poor and vulnerable among them”.
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