Paris, March 21 – UN climate change chief Christiana Figueres took the opportunity of the opening of a UN Environment Program (UNEP) office in Paris today to bid farewell to Achim Steiner, who will be ending his term as UNEP Executive Director in the summer.
The occasion was marked with a live musical tribute to his many successes in the field of environmental sustainability!
The song was also recorded earlier by a chorus of former UNEP staff, now working at the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and can be seen in the video below.
"Achim Steiner's tenure at UNEP has witnessed many extraordinary landmark achievements from a new global treaty on Mercury to a major initiative to deal with the illegal wildlife trade and its impacts on the poorest of the poor," said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"Perhaps the greatest achievement has been the way UNEP under Achim has through analysis and the convening of some of the brightest minds articulated the critical link between environmental sustainability and smarter notions of wealth generation: the Green Economy ," said Ms Figueres.
"The UN's achievement of the Paris climate agreement has benefited from Achim's unflagging support, intellect, humour and friendship. I know this is not goodbye but Au revoir. Looking forward to seeing you among the dreamy spires of Oxford!, " she said.
Mr Steiner is due to take up a new role tackling all the major challenges of the 21st century in his new role as Director of the Oxford Martin School, in the UK.
Nick Nuttall, UNFCCC head of communications and spokesperson who worked at UNEP for nearly 13 years, said: "Hats off to Achim for achieving so much with dignity, the patience of Jove and wit all the way. I hope he likes and laughs with the UNEP escapees and their musical gift to him as outgoing UNEP Executive Director.”
Photo credit: @TiyChung