FRANCE REACTS TO PRESIDENT'S MAY 31 CLIMATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002384 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR G, OES, EUR; WHITEHOUSE FOR CEQ E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017 TAGS: ECON ENRG FR GB SENV SUBJECT: FRANCE REACTS TO PRESIDENT'S MAY 31 CLIMATE INITIATIVE REF: A. PARIS 2321 ¶B. STATE 74417 Classified By: A/DCM THOMAS J. WHITE, FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (C) Summary: Generally, the French government has been cautiously positive about the President's climate initiative. At the same time, it continues to stress the importance of involuntary constraints on greenhouse gas emissions. In a G-8 'tour d'horizon' with journalists, President Sarkozy was quoted as saying that the President's initiative is an "encouraging evolution." However, he reportedly clarified that comment by questioning whether "the evolution" went far enough. News media have been more circumspect, questioning the intent of this initiative on the eve of the G-8 Summit. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On June 5, the Elysee spokesperson posted a statement about the French G-8 position, including a paragraph regarding the President's new climate initiative. It reads, "The recent statements by President Bush constitute progress which is to be applauded and would seem to mark true understanding (of the problem of climate change). But there needs to be more; we must encourage our American friends to consider the full consequences of their initiative. First, by setting numerical targets and by proposing, now to 2050, to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared with 1990...." ¶3. (C) In a June 5 Financial Times article discussing a session President Sarkozy had with journalists to discuss the upcoming G-8, Sarkozy reportedly said that the President's initiative was "an encouraging evolution." However, he was also quoted in the article, "Whether (that evolution) is sufficient or not is another thing but it is an evolution." The article relates that for the French President the most important issue is for the international community to agree to a set of clearly defined targets, within the framework of the United Nations, to reduce carbon emissions. He reportedly also told the journalists that it is not enough for the strongest country in the world, the U.S., to rely solely on technology to resolve the problem of climate change. ¶4. (C) The Elysee statement tracks closely comments ESTH officer noted in a June 5 conversation with Mr. Youenn Dupuis, the official responsible for climate issues in the new cabinet of Environment Minister Alain Juppe. While claiming his remarks were "informal," he nevertheless noted that there were "positive points" to the President's initiative. In particular, he mentioned that it reflects the U.S.'s acknowledgement of the nature of the climate threat. Essentially, France and the U.S. "share the same diagnosis" of the problem. Dupuis also said that it was positive that the U.S. saw the need to build a new international regime and that it was encouraging that the U.S. will participate, together with China and India. While stating that it was useful to have emerging economies back in the picture, Dupuis underscored the need to take into account that developing countries require a "differentiated (more lenient) approach." Technology, he agreed with ESTH officers, is important. However, he took issue with a voluntary approach to the control of greenhouse gas emissions in an advanced industrial society of the U.S.'s stature. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON