Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UNFCCC, has announced his resignation, according to Associated Press. His departure takes effect 1 July, five months before 193 nations are due to reconvene in Mexico for another attempt to reach a binding worldwide accord on controlling greenhouse gases.
De Boer said from Bonn, Germany that he was announcing his departure now to allow UN Sec Gen Ban Ki-moon to find a successor well before the Mexico conference.
AP notes that his constant travel and frenetic diplomacy failed to bridge the suspicions and distrust between developing and industrial countries that barred the way to an agreement at Copenhagen in December.
It should also be noted that it was de Boer, rather than Pachauri, who first acknowledged the "Glaciergate" error, with the good doctor trailing grudgingly in his wake. Whether the two events are connected, we do not know but, no doubt, more will emerge.
CLIMATE CHANGE – FINAL PHASE THREAD
