Brussels, 19/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - Yvo de Boer, Secretary General for the United Nations Framework Convention, announced his decision to resign on Thursday 18 February, giving rise to regret but also praise for the work he has accomplished. He had piloted global climate talks from September 2006 until the failure of the Copenhagen conference last December. “It was a difficult decision to make, but I believe the time is ripe for me to take on a new challenge, working on climate and sustainability with the private sector and academia”, de Boer said. He will leave his post on 2 July, before the Mexico conference (COP 16, December).
Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate, who reacted to the news immediately and who chaired the COP 15 for some time, paid tribute to the “impressive and tireless effort” made by Yvo de Boer on climate. She spoke of his “great knowledge and his huge capacity”, saying he was “a solid support for Denmark prior to and during the Climate Change Conference in December”. “I have always appreciated Yvo de Boer, his engagement and his sharp tongue”. Greenpeace International hailed Yvo de Boer as “a passionate and sometimes emotional advocate for a global deal to avert climate chaos”. The NGO underlines that his successor should possess “the same skills, commitment and cast-iron determination to ensure the concerns of vulnerable nations are not ridden over by rich polluting countries”. The Greens in Parliament expressed the same regret at Yvo de Boer's departure. (A.N./transl.jl)