Danish economist chosen as new UN environment chief

Inger Andersen expected to replace Erik Solheim, who quit amid travel expenses outcry

The UN secretary-general has picked the Danish economist and environmentalist Inger Andersen as its new environment chief, according to a letter seen by Agence France-Presse, turning the page on a scandal over expenses that rocked the UN agency.

Andersen, who heads the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) NGO, is set to succeed Erik Solheim of Norway, who resigned in November amid an outcry over his huge travel expenses.