Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg speaking at the annual Transforming Transportation conference at the World Bank in Washington, Jan. 18, 2013
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to be the United Nations special envoy for cities and climate change.
Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reports that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to announce his choice as early as Friday. Ban is said to be keen to “re-energize the global climate change debate and boost the United Nation’s role” in climate negotiations, Reuters reports.
Bloomberg boasts strong environmental credentials, having made combating climate change a key focus during his 12 as New York mayor. In 2007 he launched the climate change blueprint, PlaNYC 2030, with the goal of slashing citywide emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The billionaire philanthropist and businessman, who left office last month, has also pushed for national climate change legislation.
Bloomberg also heads the board of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a global network of mayors set up in 2005 to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are expected to play a key role in reducing carbon pollution levels, with over 70 percent of the world’s population expected to be living in dense urban environments by 2050.
[Reuters]