Former Mayor Bloomberg Visits UN In New Role As Climate Change Special Envoy
UNITED NATIONS (CBSNewYork/AP) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is counting on former mayor Michael Bloomberg "to work for humanity'' in his new job as United Nations Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change.
Ban made the comments Friday as he welcomed Bloomberg to U.N. headquarters for the first time since his appointment on Jan. 31.
The U.N. chief said he was counting on Bloomberg's "dedicated and visionary leadership'' to help countries around the world address the climate change phenomenon.
As a first priority, Ban said he wants the former mayor to help make the U.N. climate change summit he has called in September "a great success.''
"Most importantly,'' Ban said, "we need to have a global, legal climate change agreement by 2015.''
Bloomberg, who left office after 12 years at the end of 2013, has pledged to work on a number of issues in the national political landscape in his role as a private citizen. Bloomberg has championed gun control and a number of health initiatives over the years.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
