PANAJI
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday announced the appointment of Goan economist Dr Ligia Noronha as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
A UN statement describes Noronha as an economist with over 30 years of international experience in the field of sustainable development.
She has worked since 2014 as Director of UNEP’s Economy Division based in Nairobi, leading UNEP’s work on climate mitigation and energy transitions; on inclusive green economies, sustainable consumption and production, as well as on trade and sustainable finance, and the nexus of environment, pollution and health.
Prior to joining UNEP, Noronha worked at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi, as Executive Director (Research Coordination) and as Director of the Division on Resources, Regulation and Global Security.
She served as Secretary of the Asian Energy Institute and as Coordinator of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnerships (REEEP), South Asia and worked with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada on ecosystem approaches to human health.
Noronha has served on various boards, expert panels and advisory committees on ecosystems, natural resources and minerals and metals, and served Inter alia on the National Security Advisory Board of the Government of India on matters relating to resources, energy and climate security.
She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Mumbai, as well as a Master’s degree in Sea Use Law, Economics and Policy and a PhD from the London School of Economics.
Dr Noronha has been closely associated with organisations and institutions in the State.
She had headed The Energy Research Institute (TERI) office in Goa in the 1990’s, was a member of the Goa Golden Jubilee Development Council headed by Dr Raghunath Mashelkar which submitted the report "Goa Vision 2035" and has also been a member of the International Centre Goa.
