South African "front runner" to secure top UN climate post

South African tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk is reportedly in pole position in the race to replace Yvo de Boer as head of the UN's climate change secretariat.

According to Reuters reports citing sources close to the UN selection process, van Schalkwyk has made the shortlist alongside Costa Rican candidate Christiana Figueres.

However, a number of sources said that van Schalkwyk had secured the support of many of the leading countries in the long-running climate change negotiations and was now established as the clear "front runner" to get the job.

"The positive arguments are that he is a minister and so can talk to ministers, and has been a governor of a state so knows how to manage," one source told the news agency. "You need a politician to deal with politicians."

Van Schalkwyk's candidacy has also been strengthened by the fact South Africa is due to host next year's UN climate change summit, which is being billed by many diplomats as the last chance to agree a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon will make the final decision with the successful candidate expected to replace de Boer when he steps down in July following the next round of climate change talks in Bonn, Germany.

It is hoped that van Schalkwyk's position as a minister from a developing economy will help him bridge the gap between industrialised nations and those poorer nations who complained that they were sidelined at last year's Copenhagen Summit.

The news comes as about 600 diplomats and business leaders gather today in Beijing for a three-day meeting designed to help improve relations between key players in the international climate change negotiations ahead of the next round of talks in Bonn.

According to reports in the China Daily, the meeting will be attended by around 20 environment ministers, including officials from Denmark, Germany and Mexico.

Premier Wen Jiabao is scheduled to meet ministers today and will reiterate his commitment to deliver on China's carbon intensity targets, citing his recent pledge to use an "iron hand" to ensure that existing energy targets are met.