Kinley, who just recently retired, worked for the UN climate secretariat since 1993 and saw the international climate negotiations through from the start, in different positions. He was secretary of the signatory conference from 1996 until 2007. From September 2005 until August 2006 he worked as acting head of the secretariat. „He supported the negotiations significantly which made major milestones like the Kyoto protocol and the Paris agreement possible“, said Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan. Kinley also strongly promoted the initiative to develop Bonn as a „meeting hub“ for UNO conferences.

Kinley will remain advisor for the UN: He wants to continue to reside at the Rhine with his family, he said at the city hall event, to which his wife, his two children and many colleagues had accompanied him. As a Beethoven-Fan he also wants to be involved in the anniversary year 2020 as a volunteer. Sridharan: „I am particularly delighted that we will be able to call upon Richard Kinley’s advice in the future too.“ (Orig. text: Lisa Inhoffen)