Simon Emmanuel Kervin Stiell is a Grenadian politician, serving as the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since August 2022.[1][2][3][4] He indirectly succeeded Patricia Espinosa as the head of the UNFCCC, though Ibrahim Thiaw briefly served on an interim basis. Stiell previously served as Grenada's environment, education, and human resources minister.[3]

Career

Stiell is an engineer and studied for an MBA at the University of Westminster.[3] Prior to his political career, he worked in the technology sector for 14 years outside Grenada.[3] He worked for Nokia and GEC Plessey Telecommunications.[1] Stiell moved back to Grenada after his technology career and established a property development company. He also chaired the country's tourism board and chamber of commerce.[5]

Political career

In 2013, Stiell was appointed to the Senate of Grenada, as a member of the New National Party.[5] He served as a junior minister for agriculture,[6] environment, and human resources development. From 2017 to 2018, Stiell was the cabinet minister of education and human resources development. In March 2018, he was appointed as the country's environment and climate resilience minister. Stiell continued until June 2022, when his New National Party lost a general election.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Associated Press (15 August 2022). "UN chief taps Grenada's Simon Stiell as new UN climate chief". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  2. ^ Fiona Harvey (15 August 2022). "Grenadian minister Simon Stiell to be next UN climate chief". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Simon Stiell Appointed New UNFCCC Executive Secretary". United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  4. ^ Osborn, Catherine. "Meet the U.N.'s New Caribbean-Born Climate Czar". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  5. ^ a b c "Grenada's Simon Stiell appointed to lead the UN climate change body". Climate Home News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Stiell At OECS Environment Ministers Meeting". NOW Grenada. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2022.


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