JULY 2006 EU INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTERIAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 000676

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG ETRD EAGR EUN FI

SUBJECT: JULY 2006 EU INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTERIAL
- FINNS SEEK "GREENING OF THE PRESIDENCY"



1. (U) SUMMARY: At the July 2006 EU Environmental
Informal Ministerial, the GOF made clear its eagerness
to begin a dialogue with the US on climate change, clean
energy, and sustainable development as agreed to during
the recent US-EU Summit in Vienna. Finnish contacts
understand and accept the importance the US places on
discussing environmental policy in the context of energy
and other key issues, but they repeatedly indicated that
they intend to launch a dialogue process with the US
that leads to forward movement on climate change.
Future "eco-taxation" may play a role in EU
environmental policy and overall EU financing. End
Summary.


2. (U) The EU held informal ministerial meetings on the
Environment in Turku, Finland on July 14-16. The major
theme was "Going global on eco-efficiency" in developing
a new generation of environmental policy. GOF
Environmental Minister Jan-Erik Enestam hosted the event
that attracted 24 EU Environmental Ministers and EU
Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas.

-------------- --------------
Finns Seek Real Dialogue with US on Climate Change
-------------- --------------

3. (SBU) The GOF is eager to begin a dialogue on climate
change, clean energy, and sustainable development as
agreed to during the recent US-EU Summit in Vienna. The
GOF plans to host the first in what it hopes will be a
series of trans-Atlantic climate change sessions that
both sides can build upon during subsequent EU
Presidencies. Tentatively the GOF will involve the
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade and Industry
(Energy),and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Senior
GOF sources, including the Director General of the
International Affairs unit in the GOF Environment
Ministry, have assured us that they understand and
accept the importance the US places on discussing
environmental policy in the context of energy and other
key issues and that all three topics would be discussed
holistically; however, forward movement on climate
change with the US will be a priority.


4. (U) Several other Ministers also re-emphasized the
connection between environmental policy and energy.
Dick Roche, Environmental Minister from Ireland, went
one step further in linking energy, environment,
transportation, and agriculture. Germany stressed that
discussions during its EU Presidency would also focus on
the connection between environment, transportation, and
energy. There was a united call for new sources of
energy along with increased efficiency in power
generation.

-------------- -
The EU's Strategies on Climate and Environment
-------------- -

5. (U) The EU Environmental Ministers publicly stressed
a shift toward viewing entire ecosystems rather than
just climate change issues. They cited increased
resource consumption as a major contributor to climate
change, and recognized the demand "footprint" that EU
member states are having on the overall global
environment. EU Environmental ministers held that
globalization has increased well being for many,
including most Europeans, but that it has come at a
price in terms of the overall environment and
development in poorer nations. The EU continues to
believe it is possible to increase overall human
welfare, competitiveness, and economic growth while also
reducing consumption. Enestam and Dimas called for an
international framework and common rules for all
countries. Enestam added that "like-minded" European
countries could move forward with even more aggressive
environmental initiatives rather than waiting for
overall EU or global consensus.


6. (U) Looking forward, Ministers envisioned a
comprehensive environmental framework that will carry on
beyond 2012, including a major focus on a global
emissions trading system. Demonstrating the importance
they place not only on dialogue with the US but also on
the relevance of some US models, they cited the state of
California and seven New England states as examples of
domestic willingness in the US to move in this
direction. EU Environmental Ministers readily
recognized the EU must hit its internal environmental
goals before it can be seen as a leader to other
countries like the US and Russia. The EU would also
like to see agreements between countries on technology

HELSINKI 00000676 002 OF 002


standards, carbon capture and storage, and greenhouse
emissions. They also called for a continuation of
emissions trading commitments, with emissions from the
aviation industry being added to the equation. Enestam
put forward a general proposal on "environmental
taxation" that would shift some of the tax burden from
labor to consumers of resources, and asked the European
Commission to produce a "green paper on the use of
market-based and financial instruments in environmental
policies".

--------------
Comment
--------------

7. (U) The GOF has clearly made the launching of a
meaningful dialogue on climate change with the US a
major priority of its EU Presidency. During the EU
informal, the ministers de-emphasized actual discussions
of energy; however, they, the Finns and the rest of the
EU appear to understand clearly that getting the US to
the table to discuss climate will require that those
discussions focus on a much broader range of topics --
in particular energy security. We will continue to make
sure that message is heard as the Finns move forward on
this.

WARE