WWF conservation and science expert will advise UN secretary general in approach to Paris talks
Pasztor has served with the UN’s climate and environment bodies (Pic: Sergio Greif/Stockholm Environment Institute)
By Sophie Yeo
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Hungarian WWF official Janos Pasztor to advise him in the run-up to the UN climate talks this year in Paris.
Serving as assistant secretary-general on climate change, Pasztor will support efforts to sign off a new global climate deal in December, as well as help to mobilise climate action on the ground.
Pasztor has been WWF’s leading expert on conservation, policy and science for the last two years. Between 1993 and 2012, he held various positions in the UN, including within its climate body (UNFCCC).
Previous climate envoys chosen by Ban to spearhead climate change efforts include three former presidents and prime ministers: Ireland’s Mary Robinson, Ghana’s John Kufuor and Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg.
The appointments come as part of Ban’s effort to ramp up political will ahead of the crucial conference at the end of this year.
Pasztor would bring “absolute commitment” to the UN role, said Richard McLellan, director of Footprint at WWF International.
“Janos is a person who is focused on results and on making a real commitment to the process. He comes from Hungary but he’s really a global citizen and he has the best interest of the people and the planet at heart.”