The race to select the next United Nations secretary general is underway as António Guterres prepares to step down from the role following nearly a decade in office at the end of 2026. The selection process, which began with a call for nominations last November, has resulted in six candidates being nominated by UN member states, with additional nominations possible through the end of July. Climate change has emerged as a significant focus area for candidates, reflecting the priority given to environmental action during Guterres’ tenure.
Guterres has established a strong legacy on climate issues during his term, frequently invoking the concept of climate “emergency” and calling for rapid emissions reductions aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. His approach has included advocating for developed nations to meet climate finance obligations and intervening in negotiations at annual climate summits. His predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, similarly elevated climate concerns during his tenure from 2007 to 2016, overseeing negotiations that led to the Paris Agreement and working to mobilize climate finance commitments.
The current pool of candidates reflects regional rotation traditions, with five of the six coming from South or Central America. The candidates include Michelle Bachelet Jeria of Chile, who emphasized climate change as a human rights issue during her presidency and expanded renewable energy; Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis of Costa Rica, who has highlighted interconnections between climate and debt; Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina, whose focus centers on nuclear energy’s role in the energy transition; Macky Sall of Senegal, who emphasizes climate vulnerability in development discussions; María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés of Ecuador, who served as chief climate negotiator and advocates for coherent international climate responses; and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, who stresses climate finance accessibility and the implementation of existing commitments.
The selection process involves multiple stages of vetting by the 15-member security council, beginning with informal straw polls to assess candidate viability. Once consensus emerges on a candidate through these anonymous votes, a formal council resolution is required, needing support from nine of fifteen members with no vetoes from permanent members. The final appointment must be endorsed by the UN general assembly, though this vote is typically considered procedural. The entire process is expected to conclude between August and October, with the newly selected secretary general set to take office on 1 January 2027.
Notably, in the 80-year history of the UN, no woman has previously held the secretary general position. Four of the six current candidates are women, a development that was noted in a 2025 UN general assembly resolution establishing the selection rules. Several candidates participated in public hearings and debates during June, discussing their approaches to climate governance, adaptation financing, and equitable responses to climate impacts affecting vulnerable nations.