13. januar 2010
Eucuadors tidligere miljøminister, Yolanda Kakabadse, er tiltrådt som WWF's nye præsident på globalt plan. Hun er kendt over hele verden for sine stærke evner til at løse miljømæssige konflikter mellem forskellige parter i samfundet - fra politikere og virksomheder til forskellige sociale grupperinger.
Læs den engelske pressemeddelelse her:
Conservation champion Yolanda Kakabadse starts term as WWF President
Gland, Switzerland - WWF’s new president, Yolanda Kakabadse, says humans and nature have a shared interest in protecting the environment, arguing that politicians should give conservation issues as much attention as an economic crisis. A prominent campaigner and former environment minister from Ecuador, Ms Kakabadse begins her new role this month, after climate change talks in Copenhagen fell far short of what is needed.“Politicians around the world need to understand that saving the environment is also their business,” said Kakabadse who also served as President of the IUCN.
“Environment and biodiversity are no longer subjects for conservationists and scientists only. They have to be treated by politicians with as much attention as an economic crisis or upcoming elections,” she said.
Ms Kakabadse brings with her not only rich experience in diplomacy, coordination and mediation, she also brings passion, hope and a common vision for the whole WWF network, consisting of hundreds of offices around the world. Taking on her new responsibilities as International WWF President, responsible for presiding over the highest governance body of the organisation, Kakabadse said she would work to integrate and bring common vision and strength to the WWF family.
“The great strength of WWF is that it is close to nature and close to people and that is the approach it will suggest to solve the climate crisis.”
“As President of WWF, I would like to help bring nature closer to humans and humans closer to nature. We must understand that we have only one planet and all share its biodiversity and the incredible resources it offers; if we don’t work together to protect it, we will all lose equally.”
Referring to the climate negotiations, she said that now more than ever conservation groups such as WWF have to take their message to decision makers. Ms Kakabadse is known across the world for her outstanding role in resolving environmental conflicts between different sectors of society such as policy makers, industry and social groups. She has been an environment champion since 1979 when she co-founded Fundacion Natura in Ecuador, a successful NG.