Mr. Mama Konaté has been the Director General of the Mali Meteorological Service and so came to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice ( SBSTA) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)  with a strong technical background to the issues around climate change.

He added his personal flare to this technical background with an unassuming, welcoming openness that was appreciated by all with whom he had contact. Coming from a developing state in Africa, Mr. Konaté was acutely aware of the significant issues facing Africa in terms of future climate variability and change and has been proactively seeking progress from Parties to the UNFCCC on a “post Kyoto” agreement.

He will be sorely missed by the international community.

— by Dr. Andrew Matthews, APN National Focal Point for New Zealand