Diplomat Justin Lee has been named Australia's new climate change ambassador.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet announced Dr Lee's appointment in a statement on Sunday.
His role will be to lead negotiations on Australia's behalf within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, based in the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency's international division.
Dr Lee has just finished up as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and brings a direct understanding of the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities to the job, the government said.
"There are few more urgent challenges for the world than climate change," Senator Carr said.
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Mr Combet said Dr Lee will be at the helm of Australia's ongoing negotiations to support a "robust, binding new global agreement to provide a significant outcome for global carbon markets".
Dr Lee replaces Louise Hand, who will take up the post of Australia's High Commissioner to Canada.
