UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 001780

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR OES FOR H.WATSON
STATE FOR OES/EGC FOR D.REIFSNYDER AND STAFF
STATE FOR IO/T FOR G.ROBTERS
COMMERCE PASS NOAA FOR DUS J.KELLY, R.MASTERS, W.BOLHOFER
USEU AND USUN FOR EST OFFICERS
NAIROBI FOR USUNEP FOR K.LEVINE
BERLIN FOR ECON FOR M.GOWER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL TPHY WMO
SUBJECT: 3RD WORLD CLIMATE CONFERENCE: DECISION ON HOLDING
CONFERENCE POSTPONED FOR ANOTHER YEAR

REF: STATE 113139

GENEVA 1432

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR THE INTERNET - PLEASE
PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO)
Executive Council requested at its 57th session (June 21-
July 1) that the WMO Secretary-General form a provisional
organizing committee to develop a meeting plan for a third
World Climate Conference and submit that plan to the
Executive Council for review and decision at its 58th
session. Planning will be based on the May 2005 WMO Ad Hoc
Exploratory Committee on World Climate Conference 3 (WCC-3)
recommendation that the conference's overarching theme
should be scientific advances in seasonal to interannual and
possibly decadal prediction.


2. (U) Many Executive Council members advocated taking a
decision about holding the conference during their 57th
session. However, the U.S., Canadian, and Australian
Permanent Representatives resisted, citing the lack of a
concrete plan and consultations with relevant international
bodies and WMO member states. In response, the Executive
Council asked that those things be completed over the coming
year, so that it would be in a position to take a decision
at its 58th session in summer 2006.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: From a U.S. perspective, the outcome was
positive. A final decision about holding the conference was
postponed, the WMO recognized that the climate field is now
crowded and that it cannot work in isolation, and the
Executive Council expressed support for seasonal to
internannual and possibly decadal prediction as the focus of
such a conference. Looking ahead, we should consider our
engagement in the work of the provisional organizing
committee. Support in the Executive Council for holding a
third World Climate Conference will remain strong.
Therefore, it would be in our interest to participate in
order to keep the planning efforts squarely focused on the

topic of seasonal to internanual prediction. END COMMENT.


4. (U) Begin excerpt from the approved text for inclusion in
the final report for the 57th session of the WMO Executive
Council regarding a third World Climate Conference:

3.2.1.10 The Council was informed that, following the
request of the Fourteenth Congress, the Secretary General
established an Ad Hoc Exploratory Committee on World Climate
Conference 3 (WCC-3). This Committee met in Geneva in May
2005 and produced a report on a possible WCC-3. The
Council welcomed with appreciation the report of the Ad Hoc
Exploratory Committee and its recommendation that the WMO
consider the development of a WCC-3 on the basis outlined in
its report. The report proposed scientific advances in
seasonal to interannual and possibly decadal forecasting as
an overarching theme for the Conference.

3.2.1.11 Some voiced support for the proposed theme, citing
the socioeconomic benefits to be gained and its relevance to
policy makers. Many voiced their support for the idea of
WMO organizing such a Conference and establishing an
organizing committee to coordinate relevant matters with UN
agencies and other international entities at different
levels and facilitate their participation as well as
financial contribution in the conference. However, a number
were not ready to decide on holding a WCC-3, because the
scope, outcomes and resources for it warranted further
clarification and elaboration, and relevant international
organizations had not been consulted.

3.2.1.12 The Council agreed on the importance of
communicating widely on the scientific advances in seasonal
to interannual and possibly decadal forecasting through a
World Climate Conference, and decided:

-- To request the Secretary-General to establish a
provisional organizing committee to develop a meeting plan
for WCC-3, working on the basis of the recommendation of the
Ad Hoc Exploratory Committee on WCC-3, to develop proposals
on the scope, science programme, content of high-level
segment, timing and budget of WCC-3;
-- To request the Secretary-General to consult with relevant
international bodies including FAO, IPCC, UNDP, UNEP,
UNESCO, UNFCCC and WHO in developing proposals and potential
partnership in WCC-3;

-- To request the Secretary-General to conduct a round of
consultation with the Members regarding the meeting plan for
WCC-3;

-- To request the Secretary-General to submit the costed
meeting plan developed by the provisional organising
committee to EC-LVIII for review and decision.

End text


5. (U) Further reporting on the 57th session of the WMO
Executive Council will follow SEPTEL. The U.S. Permanent
Representative to WMO --Brigadier General John J. Kelly,
Jr., USAF Retired -- and his U.S.-based advisors did not
have a chance to clear this cable before their departure
from Geneva.

MOLEY