Connie Hedegaard has resigned as President of the COP.

A DECC spokesperson said:

'This is a planned procedural handover to the Danish Prime Minister at the start of the High Level Segment. Prime Minister Rasmussen has been closely engaged in this process talking to fellow leaders over the past months, and he will now be taking the negotiations through to the end game. Connie will remain as Prime Minister Rassmussen's special representative.'


The Danish Presidency issued the following press release:

As a consequence of the unprecedented number of Heads of State and Government who have started to arrive in Copenhagen to participate in climate negotiations, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will, from the beginning of the High-Level Segment, take the chair as president of the COP and the COP/CMP.

The Danish Prime Minister has appointed Minister Connie Hedegaard as his
special representative. Thus, she will continue conducting informal
consultations to the Copenhagen Outcome.

'Approximately 115 heads of state and government have decided to
participate in COP15 at summit level to close a deal in Copenhagen. This
historical will to address the climate challenge is the strongest possible
driver for a global agreement. The final negotiations will be tense and
strenuous. I have therefore asked Minister Connie Hedegaard to continue to
negotiate the Copenhagen outcome with her colleagues', said Mr. Løkke
Rasmussen.

Connie Hedegaard said: 'With so many Heads of State and Governments
arriving to give their statements it is appropriate that the Danish Prime
Minister presides. Negotiations and consultations will be conducted at all
levels. Who would have believed that in Bali two years ago? Leaders work,
ministers work, and negotiators work to reach a global agreement. Let's get
it done'.

The High Level Segment of COP15 begun yesterday (15 December) with the opening of the formal Ministerial plenary. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived yesterday, and 119 world leaders are expected by the week's end.