Breaking News: Hedegaard Resigns as President of COP15/CMP5

COP15 - the whole world is watchingMoments ago UNFCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer announced at the conclusion of a plenary session around noon Copenhagen time that President to the United Nations Convention Connie Hedegaard  has offered her letter of resignation effective today and will be succeeded by Danish Prime MinisterLars Lokke Rasmussen.

Hedegaard will remain involved in the negotiating process over the next few days as a “special representative” for Denmark.

Following is the text of the press release just in as I write this from the UNFCCC:

Media Announcement by the offices of the Prime Minister of Denmark and the
Minister for the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009: Danish
Presidency of COP15/CMP5 changes to PM as Heads of State and Government
join

As a consequence of the unprecedented number of Heads of State and
Government who have started to arrive in Copenhagen to participate in
climate negotiations, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will, from
the beginning of the High-Level Segment, take the chair as president of the
COP and the COP/CMP.

The Danish Prime Minister has appointed Minister Connie Hedegaard as his
special representative. Thus, she will continue conducting informal
consultations to the Copenhagen Outcome.

Approximately 115 heads of state and government have decided to
participate in COP15 at summit level to close a deal in Copenhagen. This
historical will to address the climate challenge is the strongest possible
driver for a global agreement. The final negotiations will be tense and
strenuous. I have therefore asked Minister Connie Hedegaard to continue to
negotiate the Copenhagen outcome with her colleagues”, said Mr. Løkke
Rasmussen .

Connie Hedegaard said:

With so many Heads of State and Governments
arriving to give their statements it is appropriate that the Danish Prime
Minister presides. Negotiations and consultations will be conducted at all
levels. Who would have believed that in Bali two years ago? Leaders work,
ministers work, and negotiators work to reach a global agreement. Let’s get
it done”

Update:

Video of Hedegaard speaking on the state of negotiations and her reasons for resigning as president of COP –

Thomas Schueneman
Thomas Schuenemanhttps://tdsenvironmentalmedia.com
Tom is the founder and managing editor of GlobalWarmingisReal.com and the PlanetWatch Group. His work appears in Triple Pundit, Slate, Cleantechnia, Planetsave, Earth911, and several other sustainability-focused publications. Tom is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists.

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