Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS1892
2007-09-20 04:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

Athens "Challenge of Climate" Conference - Oct 14-16

Tags:  SENV KGHG SOCI ENGR EAID GR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTH #1892/01 2630458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200458Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0293
UNCLAS ATHENS 001892 

SIPDIS

INFO AMEMBASSY EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ZAGREB, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SOFIA, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ZAGREB, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ROME, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ISTANBUL, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MADRID, PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK, PRIORITY

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR M U/S FORE
STATE FOR EUR/EX, EUR/SE, EUR/ACE
STATE FOR OES/PDAS RHARNISH
STATE FOR OES/EGC GTHOMPSON
STATE FOR OES/ENV LBRUTTEN
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID/W,
AGRICULTURE FOR MREY, GKIMBALL
USUN FOR TMALEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG SENV SOCI ENGR EAID GR

SUBJECT: Athens "Challenge of Climate" Conference - Oct 14-16

REF:

A) State 80334 B) Athens 1761 C) Athens 1741 D) Athens 1714 E)
Athens 1640 F) Athens 1800 G) Athens 1723

UNCLAS ATHENS 001892

SIPDIS

INFO AMEMBASSY EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ZAGREB, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TIRANA, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SKOPJE, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY SOFIA, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ZAGREB, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ROME, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ISTANBUL, PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MADRID, PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK, PRIORITY

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR M U/S FORE
STATE FOR EUR/EX, EUR/SE, EUR/ACE
STATE FOR OES/PDAS RHARNISH
STATE FOR OES/EGC GTHOMPSON
STATE FOR OES/ENV LBRUTTEN
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID/W,
AGRICULTURE FOR MREY, GKIMBALL
USUN FOR TMALEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG SENV SOCI ENGR EAID GR

SUBJECT: Athens "Challenge of Climate" Conference - Oct 14-16

REF:

A) State 80334 B) Athens 1761 C) Athens 1741 D) Athens 1714 E)
Athens 1640 F) Athens 1800 G) Athens 1723


1. Summary. Details of the upcoming "The Challenge of Change"
climate change conference are solidifying in wake of the recent
national elections in Greece. As the list of confirmed speakers
fills with prominent members of Government andthe Energy community,
the conference has grown to include a significant discussion on
firesand stabilization of burned areas, participation in climate
change initiatives and several proposed parallel sessions. USG
participation will include Congressman Faleomavaega and U.S. Forest
Service Director of Fire and Aviation Management Tom Harbour;
conference organizers are very interested in State Department
representation to speak. The conference will conclude with the
announcement of Athens joining the Clinton Climate Initiative Large
Cities Group (C-40),and a Ministerial-level signing of "The Athens
Declaration" - an EU-Mediterranean partnership for policies on new
renewable energy and reductions of carbon emissions by 2020. End
Summary.

--------------
The Challenge of Change "Summit"
--------------


2. Public information on the upcoming climate change conference in
Greece continues to be limited to their English and Russian language
website (www.athens-summit.com). As business in Athens resumed
following the annual August vacation exodus, details have gradually
solidified. In the past week, the ambitious list of speakers
started to materialize, presenting what looks to be a productive
event with regard to Climate Change, for Greece and the

Mediterranean region as a whole. On September 18, Econ Officer
visited James Angelus, President of conference organizer AC&C.
According to Angelus, targeted audience includes corporate and
industry leaders in energy, and the primary goal is to bring these
senior representatives together with political leaders, members of
academia and the advocacy arena. The overarching goal is to
identify a synergistic approach to addressing the global challenges
of climate change, rather than each stakeholder working in parallel,
or in some cases in opposition to each other.


3. Touted as being under the auspices of Greek President Papoulias,
this conference seeks to capitalize on the increasingly important
position Greece is taking in the energy world. The organizing
committee obtained support of both Prime Minister Karamanlis and
opposition party leader George Papandreou - both of whom are
expected to speak. Econ Officer met with Vice Chairman of the
Advisory Board Andreas Papandreou on August 23, who explained that
the effort is not to try to make the conference bi-partisan, but
rather to make it apolitical, as climate change affects everyone.
Similarly, the conference is being established in an effort to
provide a platform for debate and discussion between corporations
and advocacy groups for the prospects for future cooperation.

--------------
USG Involvement
--------------


4. The advisory board is increasingly interested in USG
participation. Offering the opportunity to discuss USG positions
and programs on climate change, to include the upcoming WIREC
conference in Spring 2008 (Ref A),Angelus expressed a desire for
senior State Department representation, either from EUR, EUR/SE or
OES to speak, likely in the opening morning session on Monday
October 15. Post is prepared to have a speaker at the event,
however given the potential for high profile press, Post agrees that
OES or other State Department participation offers an opportunity
for a statement of Administration positions to have broad public
impact. Additionally, following discussions with Staffdel
Faleomavaega (D- American Samoa) in late August, the conference
invited and recently confirmed Congressman Faleomavaega's
participation, speaking on Climate Change issues in the Asia-Pacific
region.

--------------
Fire Response
--------------


5. In response to the tragedy of the recent fires (Refs B-E),and
specifically the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Forest Service and
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team support through
USAID/OFDA, conference organizers are planning an additional seminar
to discuss Fire Prevention and Protection. Initially setting this
as a stand alone seminar before the conference, they determined
there was sufficient interest and added a session at the very end of
the conference to discuss USFS suggestions for stabilization and
rehabilitation efforts (Ref F). (Note: Any USFS statement should be
a general statement of USFS practices, since they will presumably
not have had time to fully vet their TA proposal with the GOG, and
anyway, it's the GOG that should present its own stabilization
plans, on its own schedule). This seminar will include USFS
Director of Fire and Aviation Management Tom Harbour, as well as
representatives of the Greek Fire Brigades, civil protection
organizations and local university experts on Forest Economics and
Management.


6. The fire response discussion will focus on two primary goals.
The first includes discussion of the required stabilization and
rehabilitation efforts following the recent fires. This discussion
could also touch on plans for additional support from the U.S.,
including a proposed BAER team visit, as well as similar efforts by
oth@ Australia. A key concerQmitigation of future disaQbommittee is
putting pblic awareness campaig@omething similar to SmQlets
to distribute wideQation. Additionally, the9 to increase awareness among the youth via direct involvement in
clean-up and educational projects such as annual awareness poster
competitions, much like those done locally regarding pollution on
the beaches. On the Governmental side, the session will discuss
better coordination of efforts and creation of reliable and viable
disaster reaction plans. (Comment: Post continues to encourage
Department concurrence for a U.S. based regional response plan, as
suggested in Ref G. This plan stages USG aviation assets in the
region during peak wildfire season in order to better offer response
to multiple countries' crises when needed. While monetary
contributions by the USG never intended to come close to matching
those of the EU, the GoG response to our USFS/OFDA team's visit has
been extremely favorable, illustrating that our ability to provide
leadership and experience in crisis management is both great and
sought after. End Comment).

--------------
2020 and C40
--------------


7. The ultimate product of the conference is intended to be two
formal announcements of international cooperation on climate change.
Already announced on the schedule is the proposed signing of an
Athens Declaration. This declaration would be an EU-Mediterranean
agreement proposing to extend the EU policies on energy to
neighboring non-EU countries of the Mediterranean - specifically the
reduction of carbon emissions by 20 percent and the increase of
renewable energy sources by 20 percent by the year 2020. (Comment:
Greece is currently ranked in the bottom four countries of the EU
regarding EU energy requirements is expected to fail to meet the EU
required energy policy goals by 2010, and is similarly off track to
meet the existing goals of 2020). While specific attendance has not
yet been confirmed, Angelus predicts significant international
Ministerial level participation in this ceremony.


8. Post recently confirmed through the Clinton Climate Initiative
organization that the Mayor of Athens will soon receive an official
invitation to be the 39th member of the C40 Large Cities Group
(www.c40cities.org). This invitation has been expected, and
according to Angelus, their intent is to announce the invitation to
this program, aimed at reducing emissions and increasing energy
efficiency, at the conference. This global initiative will provide
Greece with significant help in the coming year.


9. Comment. Our initial doubts about the ability to organize this
event, given the complete lack of detail only six weeks ago, are
largely assuaged. The inclusion of Tom Harbour and the session on
Fire Management, the invitation to the C40 Group of Large Cities and
the proposed Athens Declaration offer the ability for significant
ground to be covered on a myriad of issues. When combined with the
prominent list of speakers, and anticipated guests - the opportunity
clearly exists to bridge the gap between advocacy and the energy
industry. Post feels the opportunity for Department representatives
to participate in the conference, in order to voice USG programs,
including WIREC 08, is worthy. End Comment.

COUNTRYMAN