Klaus Toepfer, the head
of the Unitd Nations Environment Programme,
is being widely reported to be the leading
candidate to head a new global agency for the
environment, if such an agency is created at
the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The
European Union is vigorously pushing for such
an organization, to be called the World Environment
Organization. Toepfer--a German national who
was formerly his country's environment and urban-affairs
minister--is rumored to be actively lobbying
for the job. He has stepped up his travel schedule
in recent months. He has also staked out for
himself a major role at the WSSD, which will
be held in Johannesburg, August 26-September
4.
Efforts to reach Toepfer for comment about his
travels were unsuccessful. His New York spokesman,
James Sniffen, did not respond to an e-mail query
sent Monday evening.
The other candidate mentioned in connection
with the new environment agency is Nitin Desai
of India, Secretary General of WSSD. Desai is
currently head of the UN's Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (DESA); he is scheduled to
retire from the UN early next year. Toepfer is
known to personally dislike Desai. According
to widely circulated reports, Toepfer and UNEP
have been sniping at Desai's efforts concerning
the Johannesburg summit, which is expected to
attract some 85,000 participants.
There is no certainty that the summit will authorize
the creation of a new World Environment Organization.
There is already a feeling in many quarters that
the Global Environment Facility--jointly managed
by UNEP, the World Bank and the UN Development
Programme--is doing an adequate job.
Moreover, Toepfer's stewardship of UNEP has
been perceived as less than successful. His arrogance
and attitudes concerning third-world people have
brought him opprobrium. And he is less than popular
in political circles in his native Germany. Their
backing would be important for obtaining any
new high-level international post for Toepfer.
Indeed, Germany had considered replacing Toepfer
a couple of years ago when he underwent heart
surgery.
Earlier this week, a group of influential conservatives
in Washington wrote a letter to President George
W. Bush opposing the creation of a new global
environment agency. It is unlikely that the Bush
administration would support such an agency in
any case.
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