Statement of EDF President Fred Krupp on Michael Bloomberg’s Appointment as UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change

“United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has made an outstanding choice for his new Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change. Michael Bloomberg will be a great asset to the UN, and—even more importantly—he’ll be a great asset for cities around the world as they stand up to the threat of climate change.

“Mayor Bloomberg made reducing climate pollution in New York a priority from his earliest days in office, and greenhouse gases have dropped 19 percent citywide since 2005. His policies have made New York’s air the cleanest it has been in decades, and have sharply reduced dangerous pollutants like sulfur dioxide and soot. He championed efforts to get buildings to stop burning excessively dirty heating oils and switch to cleaner sources. And he has already shown environmental leadership on a larger stage, with his successful tenure as chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

“In addition, Mayor Bloomberg watched Hurricane Sandy hit New York and presided over the long and difficult recovery. So he has seen first-hand the kind of damage that climate-related weather events can cause.

“The world needs great leaders if we hope to face up to the threat of climate change. We have such a leader in Mike Bloomberg. I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.”

                  - Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund