WASHINGTON, DC (March 23, 2016) – BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Kim Glas released the following statement after the announcement of Todd Stern’s decision to step down as U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change in April:

“Climate change poses dire consequences for our environment, our economy, public health, food and national security. Over the past seven years, Todd Stern has served as U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change at the U.S. State Department. In this position, he has been a tireless advocate for stemming climate change, ultimately serving as the lead negotiator, and one of the driving forces, of the Paris Agreement. The agreement will help to reduce carbon emissions and curb the effects of climate change. Mr. Stern effectively led these negotiations and was critical in ensuring that the agreement was fair and just for working people and the environment.

“We thank Todd Stern for his contributions and tireless advocacy. We look forward to continuing to work with Jonathan Pershing on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the development of other critical policies to address climate change.”