As climate risks expand, diplomats start to overshadow green experts

(WEN-Planet-Ark, 27 May 2016) Diplomats are gradually crowding out environment experts in global efforts to tackle climate change, a shift signaling a higher profile for the issue and improved chances for more coordination to fight it.

Foreign ministries usually wield more clout in national governments than their environment colleagues and have more experience in coordinating issues as varied as politics, pollution, health, finance and diplomacy.

The change is in the air these days at a May 16-26 United Nations meeting on implementing last December's Paris Agreement to limit global warming, negotiated at a high-level meeting hosted by France's then foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

Last week, the United Nations chose Patricia Espinosa, a former Mexican foreign minister, as its climate chief from July. She has the highest-ranking diplomatic experience of anyone starting the job.

"There has been a shift to understand that climate change is not only an environmental challenge, it's an economic, a social challenge and does require active engagement of almost every member of the cabinet," outgoing U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica told reporters.

Climate change has become a higher global priority and foreign ministers, usually among the most senior cabinet ministers, are well placed to coordinate action, said Figueres, previously a national negotiator and environmental expert.

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WEN-Planet-Ark, 27 May 2016: As climate risks expand, diplomats start to overshadow green experts