BINDING MERCURY POLLUTION REDUCTION TARGETS - NO POSITION

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000162 SIPDIS SIPDIS OES/ENV FOR HFINMAN STATE PASS TO EPA/CHMACON STATE TO WHA/BSC WPOPP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EMIN AORC ETRD PREL SENV KSCA BR SUBJECT: BINDING MERCURY POLLUTION REDUCTION TARGETS - NO POSITION FOR BRAZIL REF: (A) 06 STATE 202028, (B) BRASILIA 50 ¶1. On January 25, 2007, SCI Officer met again with Otavio Trindade of the Ministry of External Relations' Division for Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development for follow-up discussions regarding demarche request in Ref A. Trindade reiterated Brazil's support for UNEP voluntary mercury partnerships and its opposition to binding mercury pollution reduction targets via the creation of a new international legal framework. ¶2. Trindade went on to explain, however, that he had recently been informed that the European Commission (EC) may introduce an amendment to the Stockholm Convention at the UNEP GC meeting in Nairobi that would call for binding mercury pollution reduction targets. In light of this new (to the GOB) information, and since the EC's proposal would be an amendment to an existing legal framework to which the GOB is a party, he could not confirm whether the GOB would support or oppose such an amendment. Trindade added that it was also not clear whether the GOB would establish its position on the potential amendment prior to the February 5 UNEP GC meeting in Nairobi. ¶3. Trindade opined that given the Ministry of Environment's (MMA) assessment that there has been a reported reduction in mercury pollution over the last year in Brazil, and that primary mining of mercury is already illegal in Brazil (although illegal mining and black market sales continue),GOB support for the amendment remains a possibility because the proposed targets may be easy for Brazil to meet. On the other hand, it is also not clear whether the GOB would be able to consistently meet such binding targets in the future. Trindade added that via similar logic, it may also be possible that the GOB would support a global prohibition of mercury exports. ¶4. On a related note, Trindade concluded the meeting by emphasizing that Itamaraty supports a voluntary mercury partnerships between EPA and MMA as envisioned by UNEP, and that it would welcome an exchange of letters of cooperation in this regard. Post is currently working with EPA to develop such a draft letter (to be sent to Washington for clearance prior to submittal to the GOB). Post will continue to communicate with the GOB on these issues in the lead up to the Nairobi meeting and report to Washington with any updates. SOBEL