Yvo de Boer steps down as UN climate chief to work for accountants KPMG
UN official who oversaw four years of climate talks claims disappointing Copenhagen outcome was unrelated to decision
18.02.2010 | The Guardian, UK
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De Boer said from Bonn that he was announcing his departure now to allow UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to find a successor well before the Mexico conference. The media-savvy former Dutch civil servant and climate negotiator was widely credited with raising the profile of climate issues through his frequent press encounters and his backstage lobbying of world leaders.
But his constant travel and frenetic diplomacy failed to bridge the suspicions and distrust between developing and industrial countries that barred the way to a final agreement at the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.
De Boer told the AP he believes talks "are on track," although it was uncertain that a full treaty could be finalized at the next high-level conference in November.
The partial agreement reached in Copenhagen, brokered by President Barack Obama, "was very significant," he said. But he acknowledged frustration that the deal fell short of consensus and was merely "noted" rather than formally adopted by all countries.
"We were about an inch away from a formal agreement. It was basically in our grasp, but it didn't happen," he said. "So that was a pity."
He said the disappointing Copenhagen outcome was unrelated to his decision to quit, and that he had begun looking for a new job last year before the summit.
But de Boer appeared to be more disheartened by the snail-paced negotiations than he was ready to admit.
"I saw him at the airport after Copenhagen," said Jake Schmidt, a climate expert for the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council. "He was tired, worn out." The summit "clearly took a toll on him". De Boer said he will be a consultant on climate and sustainability issues for KPMG, a global accounting firm, and will be associated with several universities.
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