MILAN, Jan 15, Reuters - Italy has appointed senior diplomat Alessandro Modiano as its special envoy for climate change, the Ecological Transition Ministry said on Saturday, fulfilling a commitment it made last June.
The ministry said that Modiano, 57, will be the reference point for all external climate change policies.
Italian climate activists had welcomed Rome's decision to appoint a special envoy following the example set by other countries to appoint prominent figures to similar roles, such as John Kerry in the United States.
Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio and Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani, who had joint responsibility for the appointment, had initially been unable to agree on a mutually acceptable figure, delaying the decision until after last year's crucial G 20 meeting and the UN COP 26 climate conference in November, which was jointly hosted by Italy.
The appointment of Modiano Italy confirms its commitment to fight against climate change, said Di Maio.