CIG: South African tourism minister tipped to take over de Boer’s UN post.

South Africa’s Marthinus van Schalkwyk is front runner to take over as head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), when Yvo de Boer steps down in July.
By: CIG LLC
 
March 8, 2010 - PRLog -- CIG has learned that the South African government recently confirmed that country’s nomination of its tourism minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk to replace Yvo de Boer as head of the UNFCCC from July.

It is understood that van Schalkwyk previously served as environmental affairs minister and has been heavily involved in international climate change negotiations. His office confirmed that he had accepted the nomination.

CIG has learned that the announcement comes after reports that a number of countries and NGO’s had called for van Schalkwyk to apply for the soon to be vacated position.

"He would be acceptable to most people, so he should definitely be counted as a favorite," a Copenhagen negotiator is believed to have told a prominent South African newspaper.

There has been a growing feeling that after the bungled Copenhagen Summit in December last year and amid growing tensions between industrialized and developing countries that the new head of the UNFCCC should come from a developing nation.

Also reportedly nominated, CIG has been told, is India’s Environment Secretary Vijai Sharma, whose nomination is believed to be supported by China. But it is felt that a Chinese or Indian nomination would be opposed by the U.S. and the E.U. both of whom remain angry at those nations negotiating tactics in the closing days of the Copenhagen talks.

CIG sources believe that van Schalkwyk’s chances will be boosted by the possibility that South Africa may host 2011’s main UN climate change summit.

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CIG is an exclusive, members only, offshore, private equity, investment firm that provides consulting services to like minded members of the private equity and alternative investment community.
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