zoom_in Click to enlarge

Patricia Espinosa

▲ ▼

description Patricia Espinosa Overview

Patricia Espinosa Cantellano is a Mexican diplomat whose career has included senior national and international posts. She served as Mexico's secretary of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2012 and later led the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from 2016 to 2022. In that UN role, she supported negotiations and implementation work connected with the Paris Agreement and international climate policy.

help Patricia Espinosa FAQ

What was Patricia Espinosa's role in the Mexican government?

Patricia Espinosa Cantellano served as Mexico's secretary of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2012 under President Felipe Calderón. During this time, she played a key role in hosting the 2010 UN Climate Change Conference in Cancún.

Did Patricia Espinosa work for the United Nations?

Yes, she later led the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) starting in 2016. She was Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC during crucial climate negotiations, including the implementation phase of the Paris Agreement.

What major international climate agreements was Patricia Espinosa involved with?

As the head of the UNFCCC, Espinosa was deeply involved in global climate diplomacy following the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. She worked to encourage nations to increase their emission reduction targets leading up to the COP26 summit.

Where did Patricia Espinosa begin her diplomatic career?

Espinosa began her diplomatic career in the Mexican Foreign Service, eventually becoming the country's ambassador to Austria and Germany. Her extensive background in international relations prepared her for her high-level climate diplomacy roles.