SENATOR KERRY AT THE BALI CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 003395 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, H, OES NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OVIP SENV ID SUBJECT: SENATOR KERRY AT THE BALI CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE REF: JAKARTA 3363 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: From December 9-11, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks in Bali, Indonesia. During the visit, Kerry met Indonesian President Yudhoyono, the Indonesian Environment Minister, and a group of Indonesian legislators. The Senator also held numerous bilateral meetings, convened a roundtable with key NGOs, and met with the media. Throughout the course of his visit, Kerry consistently underscored the importance of immediate action on climate change. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) A WHIRLWIND TRIP: Senator Kerry was the sole representative of the U.S. Senate in Bali after voting scheduling conflicts compelled three separate CODELs to cancel plans to attend the UNFCCC talks. (Note: Representative Faleomavaega was in Bali from November 28 through December 5.) Senator Kerry was also forced to pare back his time in Bali in order to accommodate the Senate voting schedule, ultimately limiting his visit to 36 hours. Reftel reviews his meeting with President Yudhoyono. ¶3. (U) MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS: On December 10, Senator Kerry hosted a breakfast for members of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) and their staffs. Simone Patrice Morin (Golkar),H. Achmad Farial (PPP),and Airlangga Hartarto (Golkar) represented the DPR at the breakfast and discussed Indonesia's environmental challenges. Hartarto talked about the importance of developing sustainable ways to use Indonesia's dwindling forests, while H. Achmad Farial outlined the political challenges associated with the central government's use of fuel subsidies. ¶4. (U) Senator Kerry urged the legislators to do their part to address climate change. Kerry acknowledged the political high wire act required to balance constituent and corporate interests while moving forward on climate change, but underscored the need for immediate action. When Senator Kerry asked the legislators what the United States could do in order to help Indonesia address its environmental challenges, the legislators stressed the need for collaboration on technology transfers and capacity building. ¶5. (U) A PACKED SCHEDULE: During the course of Senator Kerry's 36 hours attending the UNFCCC talks in Bali, Kerry held bilateral talks with the French delegation, China, Australia, Japan, Germany, the EU, a group of European Parliamentarians, and the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS). Senator Kerry also met with approximately 25 people from the international environmental NGO community, discussed the status of the UNFCCC negotiations with State Department Climate Negotiator Harlan Watson, and delivered the keynote address to a gathering of several hundred people from the United States Climate Action Network (USCAN). ¶6. (U) Senator Kerry also conducted a press conference and held one-one-one interviews with AP, BBC, and the Washington Post. He also appeared with newly installed Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett for a photo spray. ¶7. (U) THE NEED FOR ACTION ASAP: Throughout Senator Kerry's visit, he called for a "global solution" to the climate change issue. Kerry stressed that the United States should take a global leadership role in forging a new climate change treaty and said the Congress should adopt mandatory emissions limits by 2009, if not sooner. Senator Kerry also consistently urged developing nations to avoid making the same mistakes the United States and other industrialized countries have been making since the Industrial Revolution. ¶8. (U) This message was cleared by Senator Kerry's office. HUME