Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced yesterday that the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, has accepted his invitation to become the co-chair of the United Nations-appointed high-level advisory group on climate change financing with immediate effect.

Mr. Stoltenberg replaces the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) Gordon Brown.

"Prime Minister Stoltenberg will now work with the other co-chair, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, to complete the work of the Advisory Group," a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General said.

Mr. Ban thanked Mr. Brown for his service as co-chair of the advisory group until last month.

The Secretary-General also announced that he had received a communication from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, in which he expressed his country's continued support for the work of the advisory group.

Mr. Cameron has nominated UK's Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, as a member of the advisory group, Mr. Ban said.

The Advisory Group, which Mr. Ban launched in February, is tasked with drafting practical proposals to boost both short- and long-term financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in developing countries. Its membership includes President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana, as well as senior ministers and officials from central banks and other experts on finance and development.

The group is expected to issue its recommendations before the next conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in Mexico later this year.