G-8 BIOENERGY WORKSHOP, ROME, ITALY, JUNE 14-15,

UNCLAS ROME 002346

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SENSITIVE

STATE FOR OES/EGC (WATSON, REIFSNYDER, WHITE) AND IO

WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ (CONNAUGHTON, PEEL, DIXON)

NSC FOR HUTTO, STRONG, CADE, DUNCAN

DOE FOR CONOVER, EULE, GARMAN, DOBRIANSKY, HARBERT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG ECON IT AORG
SUBJECT: G-8 BIOENERGY WORKSHOP, ROME, ITALY, JUNE 14-15,
2005

REF:(A) STATE 105899 (NOTAL),(B) ROME 01956 (NOTAL)

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1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 14-15, 2005, the government
of Italy hosted a G-8 bioenergy workshop to identify
opportunities and barriers to establishing a G-8-endorsed
multilateral bioenergy initiative. G-8 members plus
Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa,
FAO, IEA, UNCCD, UNEP, UNDP WCRE, and World Bank officials
participated in the workshop. The workshop was primarily
devoted to exploring the state of bioenergy technologies,
but participants also considered the costs and benefits of
a new initiative. The workshop ended without official
conclusions or summary. The GOI volunteered to circulate
a bioenergy white paper in the near future. END SUMMARY.

G-8 BIOENERGY WORKSHOP
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2. (U) The GOI Ministry of Environment and Protection of
the Territory hosted a G-8 bioenergy workshop in Rome on
June 14-15, 2005. The overall aim of the workshop was to
"develop a common basis for a new partnership on
bioenergy, new technology and research cooperation with
the participation of governments, multilateral
organizations, private sector, research institutions and
NGOs." The workshop co-chairs were Dr. Corrado Clini,
Director General, Italian Ministry for Environment, and
Mr. Giuliano Grassi, Secretary General, European Biomass
Industry Association. The workshop attracted
approximately 80 public and private sector participants
from G-8 countries plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico,
South Korea, South Africa, FAO, IEA, UNCCD, UNEP, UNDP
WCRE, and the World Bank. The U.S. delegation to the
workshop included Dr. Robert Dixon; CEQ, Mr. Steven Eule,
DOE; and Mr. William Hohenstein, USDA. Embassy Rome
officers supported the U.S. delegation.


3. (U) The workshop was organized into four panel sessions
including: (1) biomass for the development and deployment
of heat and electricity, (2) biomass for the development
and deployment of biofuels, (3) biomass for the
development and deployment of hydrogen, and (4)
stimulating tools towards the development and deployment
of bioenergy. Dr. Dixon of the U.S. was the keynote
speaker and chairman of panel 3. Other panel leaders
included Bjorn Telenius of the IEA, Andrew Yeager of UNDP,
and Todd Johnson of the World Bank. Each panel session
explored and summarized the state of bioenergy
technologies. Some speakers also addressed barriers and
opportunities for bioenergy deployment, including
policies, finance, incentives and related topics. The GOI
was the workshop secretariat and promised to circulate the
panel presentations and unofficial summaries of the
discussion.


GAPS IN GLOBALIZATION OF BIOENERGY - NEED FOR DEVELOPING
COUNTRY PARTICIPATION


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4. (SBU) The workshop concluded with closing remarks from
Italy's Clini and Mr. Jeremy Eppels of the United Kingdom
Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs
(DEFRA). Clini's remarks shed some light on the possible
direction of the Italian government in proposing a
partnership. He stressed that there are gaps in the
globalization of bioenergy. There is a need for more
support for tools for global transfer and deployment of
technologies and more coordination in policy development.
The partnership will need the participation of developing
countries where biomass energy is prevalent. Areas of
emphasis could include regulatory and financial frameworks
and standards and certification frameworks. Currently no
single organization or activity is global and holistic and
addressing needs of developing countries. To be
effective, the new partnership should utilize existing
infrastructures, and needs to account for the roles of
IEA, FAO, UNDP and others. In conclusion, Clini proposed
that the Italian government develop a white paper to
identify gaps and address them, taking advantage of
existing international efforts. He stated that his staff
would work in the next days and weeks to circulate the
white paper.


5. (SBU) Mr. Eppels of the UK's DEFRA was generally
supportive of the Italian position articulated by Clini.
He noted that there was a need for continued collaboration
and dialogue and that the UK sees potential value,
provided the dialogue maintains high level and strategic
value and does not get too far down into the technical
issues, which are being addressed by mechanisms which are
already in place. Mr. Henry Derwent of UK's DEFRA
intervened to comment on the G-8 process. Derwent noted
that the G-8 is a consensus process, and that there is no
ongoing work program under the G-8, nor a standing
secretariat. He also noted that international

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partnerships are not dependent on the G-8 to initiate.
Dr. Dixon of the U.S. stated, in response to the Clini,
Eppels and Derwent interventions that the U.S. looks
forward to receiving and reviewing the white paper. Dixon
recognized the diverse interests represented at the
workshop, noted it was a good start, and looked forward to
more dialogue.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
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6. (U) The U.S. delegation distributed pamphlets,
brochures and other materials describing U.S. public and
private sector bioenergy programs and activities. It was
obvious that this information was an epiphany to many
workshop participants, as they eagerly collected the
publications. Participants also praised the panel
presentation by Dr. Dixon, who distributed electronic
copies. The workshop did receive some local press
coverage, but the U.S. delegation did not participate in
this activity.


7. (U) This message has been cleared by Dr. Dixon.
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2005ROME02346 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED