UN Secretary‑General Race Highlights Candidates' Climate Stances

Member states are nominating candidates to replace António Guterres as UN secretary‑general when he steps down at the end of 2026. Six candidates have been put forward so far, with more expected, and the selection process includes public hearings and anonymous polling.

The candidates – including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, former UN deputy secretary‑general Rebeca Grynspan, and others – were asked about climate policy. The UN secretary‑general role traditionally combines diplomatic leadership with advocacy for climate action, a pattern set by Ban Ki‑moon, who helped broker the Paris Agreement, and continued by Guterres, who has repeatedly warned of a climate emergency.

The upcoming appointment is seen as a chance to sustain the UN’s climate agenda into the 2020s, as the world approaches the 1.5°C warming threshold.