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Yvo de Boer resigns as Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
18 February 2010
Commenting on the resignation of the top UN climate official Yvo de Boer today (Thursday 18 February 2010), Friends of the Earth's International Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman said:
"Yvo de Boer's departure will echo the frustration felt by millions around the world at the failure in Copenhagen.
"But the UN is the only legitimate body that can forge 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.
"What is needed now more than ever is a strong and fair global agreement in line with the very real risks we all face.
"Yvo de Boer's successor must not be afraid to hold rich countries to task for their failure to set real emissions targets - it is their legal and moral responsibility to cut emissions first and fastest."
Friends of the Earth is calling for rich countries to increase their level of ambition to cut their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020, without carbon offsetting. This is the minimum the science says is required.
The green campaigning charity wants rich countries to reaffirm their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, under which rich countries accept their responsibility for causing climate change and agree to cut their emissions first and fastest.
Friends of the Earth also wants rich countries to recommit to the UN negotiating process, enshrining the principles of democracy and inclusion, rather than pursuing action through alternative forums such as the G20 or the Major Economies Forum.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Feb 2010
