Goodbye, de Boer

24 February 2010

His departure takes effect from 1 July, 5 months before 194 countries are due to meet in Mexico for another attempt at a global deal on climate.

As the UN's top climate negotiator, Yvo de Boer has been widely credited with raising the profile of climate change issues.

But his departure echoes the frustrations felt by millions around the world at the failure in Copenhagen.

We believe the UN is the only legitimate body that can take effective and fair international action to tackle climate change.

De Boer's resignation must not be seen as an opportunity to strike weak and dangerous climate deals outside of the UN process as we saw in Copenhagen.

Asad Rehman, Head of International Climate
Friends of the Earth

Yvo de Boer's successor must not be afraid to hold rich countries to task for their failure to set real emissions targets.

Global requirements

Friends of the Earth is calling for rich countries to cut their emissions by at least 40% by 2020 without carbon offsetting.

This is the minimum science says is required.

We want rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.

In the Kyoto Protocol rich countries:

• Accept their responsibility for causing climate change.
• Agree to cut their emissions first and fastest.

Renewed leadership

The successor to Yvo de Boer needs to be strong.

They need to act quickly to give the world the leadership needed on climate change.

And they must unite countries behind the UN process, enabling all countries to participate in decisions that affect them.