FINLAND: POSITION ON WORLD METEOROLOGICAL

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000290 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE: IO/T GUINNEVERE ROBERTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY WMO FI SUBJECT: FINLAND: POSITION ON WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION CONGRESS REF: SECSTATE 47359 ¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Congress to Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials. (For a complete list see paragraph 5.) While the Finnish delegation generally agreed with the U.S. position as outlined in the non-paper, they were quite insistent that the role of the WMO be expanded to include a mandate for additional work on climate change. The delegation views the WMO as the heir apparent for addressing global climate change, particularly as it relates to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issues. They cited the close collaboration between WMO and UNEP as the basis for expanding WMO,s role on climate change. Finland believes additional resources should be devoted to capacity-building and training programs, as well as WMO,s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPM) program. ¶2. (SBU) Finland agrees that the WMO should improve severe weather modeling, and that THORPEX is an important tool that should be supported by all WMO members. Finland would support WMO hosting a World Climate Conference in the future, but only if the timing makes sense and the conference has clear, concrete goals that would facilitate a post-2012 climate change agreement. ¶3. (SBU) Finland plans to support the WMO Secretary-General,s budget proposal for zero nominal growth. SIPDIS The delegation felt a subcommittee preparing budgets in advance of the meeting would be a good step forward. The delegation was also supportive of measures for improving transparency of the WMO, such as the Swiss proposal outlines. The delegation stressed that a strong WMO is a Finnish priority since it provides international benefits and support for developing countries, leading to improved international security. ¶4. (SBU) Delegation member Alestalo continuously linked the efforts of the WMO with addressing climate change head on. He commented that most European countries don,t need the WMO for basic weather and climate observations, rather European countries are far more interested in the strong international role that the WMO could provide in addressing climate change. He continued by linking global warming with international security and unrest, citing the recent report "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change" commissioned by the USG-funded Center for Naval Analyses. ¶5. (SBU) Reftel demarche was delivered to Mr. Mikko Alestalo, Deputy Director General at the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI),Ms. Maria Hurtola, Head of International Affairs Unit (FMI),Ms. Marja-Liisa Ahtiainen, International Affairs Unit (FMI) and Tanja Leikas, Project Assistant from the Unit for International Environmental Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Alestalo, Hurtola, and Ahtiainen will participate in the Finnish delegation, which will be lead by Mr. Pekka Plathan, Permanent Representative of Finland to WMO. HYATT