UNEP chief quits over frequent air travel row

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief Erik Solheim resigned on Tuesday following criticism over his frequent flying.

A preliminary audit report revealed that the UN environment chief traveled 529 out of the 668 days in office at an expenditure of 488,518 U.S. dollars.

"On Saturday, I received the final report on the audit of official travel undertaken by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services," Solheim maintained in a statement.

"For this reason, after deep reflection and in close consultation with the secretary-general, I am stepping down as executive director of UN Environment," he announced.

Solheim will continue to hold office till November 22.

"As I have maintained throughout this process – I have been and remain – committed to doing what I believe to be in the best interest of UN Environment and the mission we are here to achieve," he added.

Following the controversy over frequent air travel, major donors from Denmark and Sweden, reportedly planned for stronger assessment, before releasing funds to the UNEP.

Reportedly, donor agencies have decided to halt or freeze financial support to the agency until the release of the final audit report.

However, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), a major donor to the UNEP, in a statement refuted any such action taken by them.

SIDA maintained they are not "halting" or "freezing" funding to the UNEP as reported by a section of international media.

"We have no funds left to pay under current agreement; last and final payment was in 2017, so it's technically not about a freezing," a SIDA spokesperson told CGTN.

Solheim indicated that he would be shortly appointing an officer in charge of the organization.

(Top Image: Erik Solheim speaking at World Trade Organization (WTO) public forum on sustainable trade, October 2, 2018 /VCG Photo)