Dear Fiona,

I don’t believe we ever had a chance to meet, but I’ve heard him talk about you so many times throughout the decade I had the privilege to know him, most of which I’m glad to say I’ve been able to count myself a friend.

For me, Graeme was a mentor through many years, a man I could always go to with many a question and seek advice, but also a man I’ve shared a hundred conversations with about the history of the world (in particular, needless to say, that of the Scots), politics, economics and life in general. Admittedly, he did give up attempting football with me, acknowledging it as a lost cause. Notwithstanding, we would always find an excuse to go for a dinner or a drink, likely both, whenever our paths crossed – often in Brussels, but also all around Europe and even America, we’ve had many profound and rewarding conversations.

He always supported us at the Bellona Foundation, which he recognised as a visionary NGO ahead of its time, and I owe him great thanks for his unwavering backing of my personal work to decarbonise industry and get negative emissions right, both within ZEP and beyond – in every way he could. Perhaps even more than he should. Even when he was at his busiest, during the heights of the workload during his tenure as Chair of both CIFF and ZEP, he always somehow found the time to call me back. I will never forget that, as I will never forget him. 

As it happened, Wednesday evening 5th October, we had one of those long conversations – and to my great joy, he seemed in far better health and spirit both than he’d been throughout summer and early autumn. I was so relieved. He was in great humour too; got quite worked up about the Tories, King Charles and whatnot, but with a smile that could somehow be sensed through the phone line. We were laughing about how we’d both been invited early summer to a CEO roundtable on CCS as ‘influencers’ – and agreed it was high time we live up to the title. He was packing for Edinburgh, his first travel since June, and hoped to travel to Cyprus in a week or two. I was in Helsinki on a work trip and remember telling my colleague, who also have had the pleasure to meet Graeme on quite a few occasions, of my relief later that night.

Hence I had no suspicion, and I think I must have been in a state of shock when the devastating news reached me Friday morning. Only late that evening, as my good friend and former colleague Theo Mitchell and I were informing some of Graeme’s close colleagues and friends through the years, did the grief take hold. I could not help but think of the time that Graeme came to my home in Brussels, to introduce my then baby daughter (and me) to the Scottish tradition of crossing a baby’s palm with silver. A great man, a titan, but above all, a true friend.

Please forgive this long message. Even now, I struggle to find the right words. I only wish to share my empathy and offer you any support I can. I am deeply sorry for your loss Fiona, and that of Graeme’s children and other close family and friends – I would like to send you all strength and courage in this most difficult of times. If there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to let me know. 

Yours Ay,

Jonas