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Messages and reflections for Joke 18 Oct 2005
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I received the news of Ms. Joke Waller-Hunter’s sad demise on Saturday and feel terribly shocked
at her untimely loss. I had the privilege of knowing Joke for a number of years, and carried the
deepest admiration and respect for her as a professional and as a wonderful human being. She was always
a warm and sensitive friend who one could count on under any set of circumstances. At an organizational
level the IPCC had established an extremely positive and constructive relationship with the UNFCCC
Secretariat under Joke’s leadership. Her style was easy, effective and always positive in spirit
and intent. All my colleagues in the IPCC Bureau and the membership of the Panel as a whole would miss
her greatly, and I would like to convey our deep condolences to her immediate family and to all her
colleagues in the UNFCCC Secretariat. May her great soul rest in peace.
-Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the Panel and
the IPCC Bureau
It is with deep sadness that we learned about the death of Joke. We have known her from the time that
she was working with the Dutch Ministry of the Environment and later on as the inspiring Director of
the UN Division of Sustainable Development. We knew her as a highly intelligent, hard-working woman who
was very dedicated to the cause of sustainable development. We will remember her dearly and we will
miss her. Our deepest condolences to her family and colleagues.
-Miguel Lovera, Global Forest Coalition and Simone Lovera-Bilderbeek, Friends of the Earth
International
We have received the shocking news with deep sadness and on behalf of the National Authority of
Environment of Panama we would like to express our condolences to her loved ones. Her contributions to
environmental matters and sustainable development were simply enormous and she will be remembered as a
great leader. Hence, it would be a pleasure for us to honour her memory by keeping her commitments
alive.
-Ligia Castro de Doens – ANAM, Panama
Joke was a genuine believer in and a dedicated person to the sustainable development cause and
demonstrated a strong leadership in taking the climate agenda forward. I offer my sincere condolences
to Joke's family, friends and colleagues. May her soul rest in peace.
-Mohammad Reza Salamat, Senior Programme Officer on Sustainable Development, UNDESA/New
York
It is with deep sorrow that I and my colleagues in the Climate Change Group learn of Joke's passing
away. She had been a delight to work with, at all levels, professional, personal, technical. We, and I
am sure the whole climate change process will miss her dearly, at this moment of achievement, only
months before COP/MOP1 but also of challenge as we need all the leadership, wisdom and effort, hers and
everybody's, to move forward and especially beyond 2012.
-Dimitri Lalas, National Observatory of Athens, Greece
It was a shock for me to hear such news from Bonn. On behalf of the Minister of Environment of Burkina
Faso and myself, I would like to express my sincere condolences to her family. I take this opportunity
to express to you my deepest sorryness to the UNFCCC Executive Secretariat. May her Soul gets rest in
peace. Courage to all of you.
-Mr Mamadou HONADIA, UNFCCC focal Point of Burkina Faso
It is with deep regret that we have learned that Dr Joke Waller-Hunter has passed away. On behalf of
Professor Guy Brasseur, the Chair of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, the Scientific
Committee of the IGBP and the entire IGBP community, I wish to convey our sincere condolences to Dr
Waller-Hunter family and colleagues. Joke's work was invaluable in helping to integrate Sustainable
Development issues and global change science, and her brilliant leadership will be very much missed.
The passing of Dr Waller-Hunter is a profound loss not only to IGBP but also to the entire
international community of scholars who are working to build a science for sustainability. We mourn her
loss but we acknowledge and honour her contributions and achievements.
-Prof Kevin Noone, Executive Director, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)
I was so sorry to hear of Ms. Waller-Hunter’s death and wish to express my deepest sympathy on
behalf of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Germany. She will be remembered for her energy and
enthusiasm in working for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It would be
difficult to measure the impact she has had on the many people’s lives she touched, personally
and professionally. We are saddened to loose such a committed colleague. Please accept my
condolences.
-Dr. Monika Midel, Director, UN World Food Programme (WFP), Berlin/ Germany
Our deep sympathies for the Secretariat, colleagues and above all Joke's family. Climate change
will outlive us all, still we have lost a friend and champion.
-Tom Downing, Stockholm Environment Institute
It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing away of Ms. Joke Waller-Hunter. From the days
that she was working with the Netherlands Ministry of Environment, she was a great source of advice and
support to shape the mission of Both ENDS. She was convinced that a vibrant environmental movement was
important to advance environmental protection and sustainable development around the world. We will
miss her, while our thoughts are with her family and friends.
-Sjef Langeveld, Both ENDS
Nuestro más profundo sentimiento de pesar ante una pérdida tan sensible.
-Ministro Julio H. Hartstein
We are deeply sorrow by the passing away of Joke. We would like to send our sincere and deepest
condolences to her family, friends and the entire UNFCCC Secretariat Staff.
-Houda BEN JANNET ALLAL, OME
We sincerely condole the death of Ms Joke. We are aware that the current status of UNFCCC is a lot due
to her pioneering and determined work. May her soul rest in peace and may God give her family the
strength to cope with the loss.
-Ronjoy Rajkhowa, Marketing Manager, BVQI, India
It is with sorrow and regret that we heard the news of Joke Waller Hunter untimely passing away. She
was an inspiring, charismatic and lively personality with whom we share the conviction that addressing
climate change is of fundamental importance. We express our sympathy to her family, friends and
colleagues at the UNFCCC Secretariat. Her sparkling personality and enormous contribution to the
climate community will not be forgotten.
-Ton Hoff, on behalf of Energy research Centre of the Netherlands
On behalf of the staff of the Registry and all the Judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of
the Sea, I express my sincere condolences on the sad demise of Ms Joke Waller-Hunter. Please convey to
the members of her family and her colleagues the sentiments and condolences expressed herein.
-Ruediger Wolfrum, President, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
We at the Climate Change Unit in Uruguay are deeply saddened by this news and wish to extend our
sincere condolences to her family.
-Luis Santos, National Focal Person, Uruguay
It is really a great loss . Please extend the condolences to her family from the Climate Change Team of
Cuba.
-Dr. Luis Paz
This is indeed very sad that we have lost a person dedicated to her responsibilities. May her departed
soul rest in peace. Let her relatives and the family find the strength of mind to withstand the
loss.
-Asaduzzaman, Bangladesh
I am saddened and shocked by this news.We at the National Committee for Climate Change in the State of
Kuwait wish to extend our sincere condolences to her family and relatives
-Mohammad Mandekar, Environment Controller, Ministry of Energy, Kuwait
Yesterday, I learnt with sadness that my old friend, Joke Waller-Hunter, had passed away. the news
triggered in my mind happy memories of the period, March 1990 to June 1992 when I had the pleasure of
working closely with her and her Dutch colleagues, in the preparatory committee for UNCED and at the
Earth Summit itself. I was the Chairman of the preparatory committee which met for two years, in one
organisational and four substantive sessions. During that period, I came to know most of the
delegations quite well as I tried to reach out to all of them in order to galvanise a consensus. In my
mind, the Dutch delegation was one of the best. Because of people like Joke, it was professionally
competent, helpful and constructive. When the action moved from the preparatory committee to the Earth
Summit, in June 1992, I had many anxieties. One of my biggest anxieties was the inability of the United
States to lead. It was an election year and President Bush had decided not to provoke his right-wing on
the environment. Fortunately, the Netherlands was the President of the EU and became the principal
interlocutor of the Group of 77. The Dutch delegation saved the Earth Summit from failure. One of the
most valued members of the Dutch team was Joke Wallter-Hunter. In the intervening years, I have had the
pleasure of seeing Joke and working briefly with her when she was with the UN and subsequently when she
moved to the OECD. I had the great pleasure of welcoming her to Singapore. I will always remember Joke
with admiration and gratitude.
-Tommy Koh
We first met Joke in Rio in 1992. The next year she came with a mission to Curacao to help us with our
environmental planning. She inspired us to take a good look at our issues and seek solutions. This
resulted in the setup of our department. Later that year, I met her again in The Hague, both at work
and at home. We will miss her.
-Eric Newton, Dept of Environment Netherlands Antilles
I met her in person only once in 2003 at the UNFCCC headquarters in Bonn and was deeply impressed.
Certainly all the "climate change community" will miss her. My deepest condolences to
Joke's family. May you take the following words of Jesus as a reflection: "For my Father's
will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day." (John chapter 6 verse 40)
-Eliezer Martins Diniz, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
May the Lord give you his peace in this time of sadness. The early years of the CSD were a time of
working together, governments, secretariat and NGO's. It was a good time, the best of times becuase
of Joke Waller Huner and her leadership. I am filled with sadness at her early death.
-Mary Theresa Plante
On behalf of all ICLEI staff especially those working in the international Cities for Climate
Protection Campaign, our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and colleagues of Joke Waller
Hunter. A renowned leader and extraordinary advocate of advancing climate protection globally as
secretary of the UNFCCC and as environment director of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, OECD, Joke Waller Hunter will be greatly missed. Joke Waller Hunter leaves behind a legacy
of leadership and inspiration. ICLEI is committed to continuing the pursuit of effectively combating
global warming in her honor.
-ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability - Cities for Climate Protection Campaign
It's with deep shock that I learnt of Joke Waller-Hunter's passing. I spoke to her several
times for Deutsche Welle Radio and found her a boldly candid and lucid interview partner. Please extend
my best wishes to her family, friends and colleagues.
-Jennifer Macey ABC radio (formerly with Deutsche Welle)
Hoy el mundo recibió la mala nueva del fallecimiento de la señora Joke Waller-Hunter,
secretaria ejecutiva de UNFCCC. No tuve el honor de conocerla personalmente, sólo saludarla
fugazmente en medio de las agitadas sesiones plenarias de la conferencia celebrada en Buenos Aires.Pero
en ese corto tiempo obtuve la impresión de estar ante una mujer corajuda, decidida y
verticalmente comprometida con la tarea para la cual había sido nombrada, así como de que
gozaba de un respeto y admiración generalizado, tanto de partidarios como detractores de sus
esfuerzos. Es precisamente eso lo que me motivó a enviar este mensaje para hacer llegar a esa
institución mi sentido pésame por la infausta noticia de esa desaparición
física a tan temprana edad, así como mis sentimientos de solidaridad con sus familiares y
más allegados colaboradores.
-Roberto Molina, Corresponsal Prensa Latina News Agency
I am very sad. The world has lost a very deep and proactive person. Bye Ms. Joke, we are going to miss
you.
-Gonzalo Menendez G. - Panama
It was a privilege for the climate community to work with Joke. She will be remembered in Finland as a
person of great integrity, intelligence and modesty. Her choice to work till the end was yet another
indicator of the huge dedication she had for promoting the environmental agenda in general and the
climate change in particular. She has left an empty place that will be hard to fill.
-Sirkka Hautojärvi, Secretary Genera, Finnish Ministry of the Environment; Outi Berghäll;
Finland's Focal Point to the UNFCCC
Joke was always a person on great strength and conviction. Her determination was an important asset to
successfully lead the UNFCCC Secretariat, and clearly gave her the ability to fight back her illness
for a long time against the odds. She will be greatly missed in the worlds of the United Nations and
climate change, to which she gave so much of herself. May she rest in peace and continue to provide us
private guidance, and I hope she will be proud of what we collectively continue to achieve for the
enviroment now that she has left us.
-Norine Smith, Enviroment Canada
Thanks Joke for the opportunity to work with you. Never have so many worked so hard and been so happy
about it. You led by example and in doing so taught us that the level of commitment necessary to make a
difference is in all of us and that !yes!it is possible to make a difference. But most importantly,
thanks for the "great times" and for allowing us to be ourselves. Remember the April Fools
pranks, the Village People, the Rio+5 shirts and so many other times that made working at the UN so
much more fun. Thanks Joke for the opportunity to be your friend (though lately from a distance). For
being there when advise was needed and for encouraging me to work hard, while not forgetting to enjoy
life. You will always be an inspiration.
-Tarcisio Alvarez-Rivero, UN DSD
I remember Joke from the beginning when she joined the Secretariat as I was the first person that she
"APB'd" at that time. I remember her asking me if I knew what the procedure was as it was
the first time that she had performed this formality, and I replied by telling her that it was also my
first time. A very genuine and friendly lady. Indeed she shall be missed by many. May she rest in
peace!
-Janet Thomsen ex UNFCCC Staff Member
Climate change is in reality an economic and social issue as well as an environmental issue. Dealing
with such a challenging issue not only needs warm hearts, but even more importantly cool heads. Ms.
Waller-Hunter will be remembered for her skilful leadership and cool heads with warm hearts in leading
global efforts to find policy solutions to solve the most challenging issues we face toady. We all know
you are very exhausted, and wish you have a peaceful rest.
-Dr. Zhong Xiang Zhang, Senior Economist, East-West Center, Honolulu
It is with great sadness that I received the news of Joke's passing. She was my first boss at the
UN and a unique leader and role model with a clear vision for our work. She showed me that she believed
in me and that hard work pays off. It is a privilege to have known her. May her soul rest in
peace.
-Birgitte Alvarez-Rivero, UN DSD
Ms Waller-Hunter has touched the life of many, through her work and her personal efforts. We thank her
for the very postitive influence she had on our daughter while she worked in Bonn. Our thoughts and
prayers are with the family and friends of Ms Waller-Hunter. May she rest in peace.
-Bev Lue
Joke's outstanding commitment to climate change process will certainly endure in our memory. Her
dedication and leadership will be our guide in the coming years. May her soul rest in peace.
-Ernesto Céspedes Oropeza, Mexico's UNFCCC National Focal Point
J'apprends avec une profonde tristesse la nouvelle de la disparition de Joke Waller-Hunter. Comme
ancien participant français aux conventions de l'UNFCCC je tiens à saluer la
mémoire de celle qui si bien su servir l'intérêt international. Sa disparition
au moment où nous passons à la mise en oeuvre du protocole doit être ressentie
comme une immense perte pour tous ceux qui oeuvrent à la réussite du protocole de KYOTO ;
il sera bien difficile de poursuivre dans cette voie de façon aussi efficace et volontaire ,
avec cette conviction si bien portée que la réussite sera inéluctablement au
rendez-vous à l’issue de ce travail international ainsi accompli.. Sa compétence et
ses conseils manqueront indubitablement lors de la prochaine réunion de l'UNFCCC. Dans ces
douloureuses circonstances, je présente au nom de l'ATEE Bourgogne nos sincères
condoléances à sa famille et à ses proches
-Gérard Drexler ATEE Bourgogne
Our deepest condolences go out to Joke´s family and to people who worked with her. The trade
unions thank her for the support y attention that she has always had with the workers along this
years.
-Joaquín Nieto, Comisiones Obreras(CCOO) and ICFTU
With great shock we received the message of Juke Waller-Hunter passing away. We deeply morn with her
family and her staff in the secretariat having lost a great person, a dedicated environmentalist and a
forward looking concerned leader.
-Holger Liptow, Climate Protection Programme, GTZ
The sudden passing away of Joke Waller-Hunter was a great shock for everybody involved in one of the
most urgent issues today, globale climate change. The German Advisory Council on Global Change offers
his sincere condolence to her family and the UNFCCC staff.
-Meinhard Schulz-Baldes, Secretary-General WBGU
Ms Waller-Hunter was a courageous and tireless fighter for finding ways to solve climate change. Add to
this her splendid sense of humour and her personal commitment and you can imagine how much the
international climate change community will miss her. We will never forget her contribution to the
international climate change regime.
-Dr Claude Martin, Director General, WWF International
It is with deep sadness that we learned about the death of Joke. We have known her from the time that
she was working with the Dutch Ministry of the Environment and later on as the inspiring Director of
the UN Division of Sustainable Development. We knew her as a highly intelligent, hard-working woman who
was very dedicated to the cause of sustainable development. We will remember her dearly and we will
miss her. Our deepest condolences to her family and colleagues.
-Miguel Lovera, Global Forest Coalition and Simone Lovera-Bilderbeek, Friends of the Earth
International
Condoleances a la famille et aux proches, mais aussi aux collegues pour que le flambeau soit releve
dans le domaine des CC
-Amady Gnagna CISSE MEPN, Senegal
A vous tous qui l'avez connu, le GREP (groupe environnement et presse) du Sénégal
& le réseau africain des journalistes de l'environnement, vous présentent leurs
sincéres condoléances.
-Ibrahima Fall, GREP (groupe environnement et presse)
La Mission interministérielle de l'effet de serre apprend avec une profonde tristesse la
nouvelle de la disparition de Joke Waller-Hunter. Serviteur de l'intérêt
international, elle a guidé le secrétariat de la Convention climat avec dévouement
depuis 2002 durant une période parfois difficile de transition. L'entrée en vigueur
du protocole de Kyoto en février dernier a été son triomphe. Sa disparition
à ce moment, lorsque nous passons à la mise en oeuvre du protocole et apprêtons
à entamer la discussion de l'avenir, est tragique. Son bon conseil nous manquera à
Montréal. Toute l'équipe de la MIES envoient leur sincères condoléances
à sa famille et à ses proches.
-Mission interministérielle de l'effet de serre (MIES)
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