Hedegaard resigns as climate summit president
No commentsCOPENHAGEN–Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard today resigned from the position of the president of UN climate talks here. She was replaced by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen as head of the historic talks.
The change was announced Wednesday as the 193-nation conference enters into a higher phase of negotiations, with world leaders arriving.
The Danish prime minister appointed Hedegaard as his special representative. Thus, she will continue conducting informal consultations in the UN climate summit, which ends Friday.
In a statement, Hedegaard said it is appropriate for the prime minister to take charge of the conference with so many heads of state and government taking part.
“However, the prime minister has appointed me as his special representative and I will thus continue to negotiate the … outcome with my colleagues,” she said.
Ms Hedegaard was appointed climate minister in 2004 and has been criticized by African nations for favoring rich nations in the climate negotiations. She has taken part in six UN climate summits, including this one.
Speculation about the removal of Ms Hedegaard is the talk of Denmark today.
