| February 18, 2010 |  |
De Boer Resignation from United Nations Will Not Slow Progress on Addressing Climate Change
Statement by Alden Meyer, Union of Concerned Scientists
WASHINGTON, DC (February 18, 2010) – U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer announced today that he is resigning his position as of July 1. He plans to join the consultancy group KPMG as a climate advisor, and will consult with a number of universities.
Below is a statement by Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"Yvo de Boer has done a good job providing leadership during an extremely busy and challenging time in the climate treaty process.
"Yvo signaled last year that he was committed to seeing the process through in Copenhagen, but did not see himself staying in the position forever. So while the exact timing of his departure was not known, his resignation should come as no surprise.
"There's certainly no reason his resignation should slow progress leading up to the next major climate change conference in Mexico in November. In fact, the key to progress remains with the major countries. They must commit to two things: significantly reducing their own emissions and providing substantially expanded financial help for developing countries to cut their emissions and adapt to climate change. This is something that Yvo consistently called for before, during, and after Copenhagen, and is something I assume his successor will call for as well.
"Opponents of climate action in the Senate should not use his departure as an excuse for inaction. Instead the Senate should step up and ensure we are able to make progress in Mexico by fulfilling our own obligations.
"No one should be alarmed that Yvo's chair will remain empty for too long. There's plenty of time before July 1—when Yvo resigns—for UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to appoint a successor. And there are any number of qualified people who could ably take the helm, including Deputy Executive Secretary Richard Kinley. I expect that after three executive secretaries from developed countries, there'll be a preference for appointing someone from the developing world."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
