ECOLOGY MINISTER RAISES SUITE OF ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000601

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR G/DOBRIANSKY, OES/MCMURRAY, OES/GC, OES/ENV;
WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ/CONNAUGHTON;
TREASURY FOR LESLIE HULL;
DOE FOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, LAU AND PRICE, AND THE
OFFICE OF CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY, ATTN:RMARLAY;
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS/MEDEAIRIS;
USEU FOR ESTH/SMITHAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL EAID PREL FR
SUBJECT: ECOLOGY MINISTER RAISES SUITE OF ENVIRONMENT ISSUES
WITH AMBASSADOR; CLOSER COLLABORATION SOUGHT


1. (U) This is an action message. Please see para 10.


2. (SBU) Summary. On January 25, Ambassador and Minister
for Ecology and Sustainable Development Nelly Olin engaged
on climate change-related issues, the Global Environmental
Facility replenishment talks, the `World Environmental
Organization' concept proposed by President Chirac, and a
new international mechanism of scientific expertise on
biodiversity (known as `IMOSEB'),also strongly supported by
the GOF. Notwithstanding different views on these subjects,
the discussion was positive and Minister Olin welcomed the
Ambassador's suggestion that she visit U.S climate, energy,
and environmental research facilities, possibly in May 2006.
The Minister proposed an exchange of French and U.S.
environmental officers to improve understanding of each
others' perspectives and environmental systems. End
summary.

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Climate Change: "Step-by-Step"
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3. (SBU) Minister Olin presented French concerns on climate
change and, in reference to the Montreal Conference,
expressed appreciation for the "U.S.'s last minute helpful
gesture that other countries had been waiting and hoping
for." She said she had followed "with great interest" the
Inaugural Ministerial Meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Partnership on Clean Development and Climate in January in
Sydney. The Ambassador stressed the U.S.'s deep commitment
to find technical solutions to meet the climate change
challenge; our successes recently in reducing GHG emissions
domestically; and the necessary involvement of China and
India to develop an effective global response to climate
change.


4. (SBU) Olin agreed that "developing countries must
include a number of environmental priorities" in their
policy. She further commented that she was recently
"happily surprised" with the Chinese positioning on
ecological issues and that she felt that China was "making
progress." She was more reserved about India which she
perceives as adopting a wait-and-see attitude on clean
development. Olin concluded the climate discussion on a
positive note stating that "on this issue we are making
progress."


5. (U) In other opening remarks, the Minister spoke highly
of U.S. - French collaboration in the Congo Basin Forest
Partnership. Viewing this as a successful project, she
mentioned that France will now serve as the partnership's
head, pursuing policies put in place when the U.S. had led
the partnership.

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"Grand Souci" GEF-4 Replenishment
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6. (SBU) Regarding the ongoing round of Global Environment
Facility (GEF) replenishment talks, the Minister prefaced
her points saying that this was "a real source of worry" and
"This is something for which I need your help." She stressed
the importance of the GEF as the key financial mechanism to
ensure progress on such issues as climate change,
biodiversity, desertification, and chemicals management for
the developing world. Olin asked the Ambassador's help "to
unblock" the replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund. She said
that the U.S. had made a commitment at the Gleneagles G-8
Summit to support the facility. Experts on the Minister's
staff stressed the unique nature of the fund, its past
successes, and the repercussions were the U.S. contribution
to be reduced. Such an action would not only impact the
replenishment but would in turn serve as a signal for other
contributors to reduce their offers. Embassy ESTH Counselor
inquired about France's financial commitment - 164 million
Euros over a four-year period - and indicated that while the
Embassy knew that GEF replenishment talks were underway, we
were unaware of the details of the U.S. position. The
Ambassador agreed to convey to the French U.S. points on the
GEF.

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A `World Environmental Organization'?
--------------


7. (U) The Minister said it was the wish of President Chirac
to transform the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
into something larger, a United Nations Environment
Organization (UNEO) perhaps, to strengthen the efficiency
and coherence of international environmental governance.
She claimed that this desire is now shared by all European
countries and that the Austrian EU Presidency plans to soon
raise the issue on the United Nations' agenda.

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New Biodiversity Mechanism?
--------------


8. (U) Olin also confirmed the GOF desire to move forward
on the `IMOSEB' issue. (Note: The concept of an
International Mechanism of Scientific Expertise on
Biodiversity (IMOSEB) was introduced by President Chirac at
the International Conference on Biodiversity and Governance
held in Paris in January 2005. During that conference, and
recalling the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC),Chirac proposed the creation of a similar
mechanism for biodiversity. The conference final statement
urged the launch of an international, multi-stakeholder
consultative process to assess the need for such a
mechanism, and a meeting was held in Paris in June 2005 to
initiate the `next steps' consultative process. End note.)
Olin informed the Ambassador that a follow-on IMOSEB meeting
would take place in Paris February 21-22, 2006. ESTH
Counselor responded that the U.S. favors neither a `World
(nor UN) Environment Organization,' nor perceives the need
for an additional mechanism to oversee biodiversity. The
U.S. goal is to enhance the performance of existing
international/multilateral scientific organizations,
mechanisms, and treaties. While stressing that the U.S. is
disinclined to concur in a new mechanism for biodiversity,
ESTH Counselor indicated that the USG may send an officer
from Washington to attend the February meeting. While
comprehending the U.S. position, Olin nonetheless hoped that
the U.S. would indeed participate in the meeting.

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Enhancing Environmental Cooperation
--------------


9. (U) Olin told the Ambassador that the Ecology Ministry
has begun an exchange program of government officials,
notably with other EU countries. She said that her Ministry
would welcome a U.S. environmental officer to participate in
a secondment. The Ambassador suggested that France might
wish to augment its existing technical environmental
exchanges with the U.S. That this might include U.S.
`brownfield' sites. The Ambassador invited the Minister to
visit U.S. energy laboratories, such as the Department of
Energy's Renewable Energy Laboratory and/or the National
Center for Atmospheric Research or similar centers. The
Minister said she would like to accept the Ambassador's
invitation perhaps around a planned visit to New York, May
10-12, her schedule permitting.


10. (U) Action Requested: Washington agencies are
requested to provide the following:

-- U.S. points re the GEF replenishment talks to forward to
Minister Olin;

-- Reactions to the GOF suggestion regarding secondments of
U.S. environmental officers (State OES?, EPA?) for short or
long periods at the French Ministry of Ecology;

-- Site visit suggestions for Minister Olin that highlight
U.S. climate technology efforts.


11. Comment: Notwithstanding the sensitive topics
discussed, we sensed the Minister sought to make the
dialogue constructive and positive. Interestingly, not once
was the `Kyoto Protocol' mentioned. The Embassy seeks to
continue this dialogue begun between Minister Olin and U/S
Dobriansky at the Montreal Climate Conference and we think
it would be extremely useful strategically to provide her
with points on the U.S. position on the GEF, views regarding
a possible secondment of a U.S. officer to the Ministry of
Ecology, and suggestions for visits to U.S. environmental,
energy efficiency, and climate science sites. End comment.

STAPLETON