VIP seat available at Copenhagen Summit

One VIP seat at the December 2009 Climate Summit in Copenhagen has become available.

This is my way of saying that Svend Auken from Denmark who passed away this morning was very important.

Not all those who wear a VIP badge deserve it, but Svend really did.

I had the privilege to interact and conspire with Svend Auken many times during the years he was Denmark's Minister of Energy and the Environment, between 1993 and 2001. The sad news of his death is the opportunity to recall many very important environmental policy milestones that would not have been possible if it had not been for Svend Auken's strength: the Kyoto Protocol (1997), the London Convention ban on ocean dumping (1993), the prohibition of ocean incineration (1992), the North Sea and OSPAR Ministerial agreements (1993-98), the Basel Convention ban on waste trade (1994), the Environment Ministers Declaration on GMOs at the Seattle WTO conference (1999), the CBD Protocol on Biosafety (2000). And numerous EU Directives on many environmental issues (the review of the EU Chemicals Policy which was the origin of the REACH regulation for example). Let alone his role in numerous domestic issues.

And of course, the formidable boost to the wind industry triggered by Svend as Energy Minister.

VIP