Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, remains optimistic about global climate action in a recent interview with The Guardian.

Roger Harrabin reports that Espinosa, who is travelling to the U.S. this week to try and meet new Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, hopes to continue engaging the United States in the international framework for climate action, but that the rest of the world will continue to carry on ambitious action on climate change.

Harrabin noted Espinosa’s continued optimism as she discussed the action already being taken by businesses and cities in the U.S. and around the world:

“A lot of U.S. businesses are really going into the agenda of sustainability and some are making their own commitments in emissions reductions in their own operations. An incredible amount of cities have embarked on ambitious goals; some states like California have been for many years in the forefront of this agenda.

“In International Petroleum Week, I was very encouraged to hear how much some of the oil and gas companies are realizing that the future of their industries is in a transformation into clean energy companies – and they have embraced this in their own interest. The transformation has started. I think it’s unstoppable.”