Michał Kurtyka is internationally renowned for his unique ability to build consensus. As President of the UN COP24 Climate Summit, he successfully led to the adoption of the Katowice Rulebook – a document, which enabled the implementation of the Paris Agreement – by 196 countries participating in the summit and the EU. Michał Kurtyka was also elected Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) at ministerial level in 2019. He contributed to the adoption of the IEA Ministerial Communiqué, which reconciled the different expectations of the member states of the Organisation – a feat that has not been achieved in the previous 10 years. Michał Kurtyka also chaired the works of the IEA between 2016 and 2017 concerning preparing the comprehensive financial reform of the Agency  – Long Term Financial Health – which has enabled the sustainable financing of the activities of the IEA.

In the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, in his programme for the OECD, Michał Kurtyka posited the introduction of an economic recovery project dubbed the  New Growth, with the aim to ensure better quality of life for societies. He appealed to the Members of the Organisation, saying that the actions taken now should not be reactive and based on current needs, but should also take a long-term perspective into consideration. “Even in the midst of the crisis, we must think about the future and build an economy resilient to further shocks,” said Michał Kurtyka.

The process of electing the new Secretary-General will start on 1 November and may last until 1 March 2021.