UN chief picks Mexican diplomat to head climate office

Ban Ki-moon says he will appoint Patricia Espinosa Cantellano as new chief of UNFCCC, as climate talks shift from setting goals to carrying them out

A veteran Mexican diplomat has been chosen to head the United Nations' newly upgraded climate office, UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced in a letter to France's environment minister.

Ban said he will appoint Patricia Espinosa Cantellano "as the new UNFCCC Executive Secretary for a term of three years," referring to the body which oversaw the international negotiations in December leading to a historic climate pact.