The Secretary-General has taken note of the announcement by Mr. Yvo de Boer this morning of his decision to resign from his post as Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Mr. de Boer spoke to the Secretary-General in advance of his decision and was informed that, while the Secretary-General regretted the decision, he would respect it.

The Secretary-General has expressed his appreciation to Mr. de Boer for his strong commitment and professional support to the UNFCCC negotiations, and for guiding the UNFCCC Secretariat since September 2006. Mr. de Boer's contribution during this crucial period encompassing the negotiations in Nairobi, Bali, Poznan, and in Copenhagen will be well remembered, and he will be difficult to replace.

The Secretary-General expressed his intention to embark soon on the task of identifying and recruiting the new Executive Secretary. He will consult the Bureau of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in that process.