One of the most significant and colourful figures at the UN climate talks is leaving. This round of Bonn negotiations is the last round for the Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He's the chief civil servant assisting the negotiations and is in charge of all the United Nations officials who assist (called the Secretariat).
Yvo de Boer has become famous for his quotes aimed at cajoling countries into making more emission cuts. After Copenhagen he criticised the outcome in a letter to staff saying that we needed a cake but ended up with a muffin of doubtful parentage.
It's worth checking out this profile on the Guardian.
As Executive Secretary he has supported the role of NGOs (and appears to be particularly fond of Fossil of the Day) so he was given a great send-off at the NGO party. A long-standing NGO representative from the Union of Concerned Scientists wrote a song which we all sung and Yvo De Boerreplied with a farewell speech.
If you're interested who have been following the negotiations closely, the words of the song follow. There are a lot insider jokes, so I challenge those of you who are familiar with the negotiations to comment on the lines and explain what they mean.
YVO'S FAVORITE THINGS Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Alden Meyer
LCA text that's chock full of square brackets, NGO activists raising a racket, Contact group meetings all tied up in strings, These are a few of my favorite things. Long interventions by Ms. Bernaditas, Pershing and Stern coming upstairs to meet us, Press conference questions that go round in rings, These are a few of my favorite things.
When the talks stop, and the blame starts, and the press is bad, I try to remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so sad. Doing a briefing for civil society, Lots of receptions that test my sobriety, COP bureau meetings and the joys that they bring, These are a few of my favorite things. Umbrella Group non-papers written by Brollies, Parallel talks being conducted in Bali, Nairobi and Poznan and other great flings, These are a few of my favorite things.
When the tears flow, and the fears grow, and the world seems mad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad. Outside the Maritim having a quick smoke, Trying to chuckle at Al Saban's bad joke, Biennial budgets so tight that they cling, These are a few of my favorite things. Keeping Al Gore out of the Bella Center, NGOs shut out in the cold, dark winter, Danish draft text that's brought in from the wings, These are a few of my favorite things.
When my time's up, and I leave Bonn, for KPMG, I'll always remember my favorite things, at UNF-triple-C
Geoff Keey reporting from Bonn