Statement From Mayor de Blasio on the Appointment of António Guterres as Secretary-General of the United Nations

October 13, 2016

“I congratulate António Guterres on his appointment to a five-year term of office as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. As the proud host city to its permanent headquarters, New York City is honored to work closely with the United Nations on a range of issues critical to our city and world. 

“My administration works every day to strengthen the lasting connections between our diverse city and this global institution. There are many pressing economic, development and environmental challenges ahead, and I look forward to collaborating closely with Secretary-General elect Guterres when he takes over this important role next year. As former Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr. Guterres will bring a breadth of experience to one of the toughest jobs in the world, and as the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees he will bring critical expertise to the job at a time when the refugee crisis has reached a level of urgency not seen since World War II.

“Since taking office, I have shared a close and productive relationship with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ban’s dedication and commitment to climate action from countries around the globe is one of the many defining moments of his legacy. The Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals compel every city and nation to do its part to combat the effects of climate change. This is a fact and challenge New York City embraces, and one of the reasons we implemented our OneNYC plan to create a more equitable, sustainable and resilient city. I thank him for his tireless service and for all that he has accomplished during his tenure.”