UN CSD-15: READOUT OF FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 2

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000196 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ECON EUN SENV UNCSD SUBJECT: UN CSD-15: READOUT OF FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 2 INTERGOVERNMENTAL PREPARATORY MEETING -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development achieved its principal aims the week of February 26 of producing a basis for the CSD-15 negotiating text in May, and providing a showcase for highlighting proven solutions in the areas of energy, atmosphere, industrial development and climate change that can be replicated and scaled up around the world. While most delegations focused their efforts on laying the groundwork for the outcome document, the U.S. won praise from developing states for its singular attention to action and implementation through the use of concrete examples. European Union ambitions to elaborate a review mechanism and a voluntary basket of commitments may complicate negotiations at CSD-15. End summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶2. (U) The two-year "Energy Cycle" of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) began in May 2005 and consists of two main sessions: the CSD-14 Review Session (May 1-12, 2006) and the CSD-15 Policy Session (April 30-May 11, 2007). The February 26-March 2, 2007 Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM) for CSD-15 served as a bridge between CSD-14 and CSD-15, offering an opportunity to "identify policy options and practical measures" to overcome the barriers and constraints to implementation that were identified last year. While the official output of the IPM was a "Draft Negotiating Document," the CSD Secretariat also continued its work on a "Matrix" of 120-plus best practices to address the energy challenge. -------------- The IPM Outcome Document -------------- ¶3. (U) The IPM for CSD-15 concluded with the release of a 9-page "Draft Negotiation Document" that listed, largely in bullet format, ideas raised during the week by delegations for inclusion in the ultimate outcome document for CSD-15 in May. The document was organized around the four themes of CSD's current two-year cycle (energy, atmosphere, industrial development and climate change),plus sections on interlinkages and follow-up. Though the draft document contains considerable repetition of previously negotiated text, it fairly reflects the content of the week's discussions while keeping a format that will preclude an endless cycle of negotiation stretching to the start of CSD-15 on April 30 -- a key U.S. objective. ¶4. (SBU) The European Union (EU) voiced loudest disappointment in the "Draft Negotiation Document," noting that it omitted reference to the EU's ambitious proposal for a review mechanism for renewable energy and its proposal for creating a "voluntary basket" of commitments. Both ideas are likely to be resurrected by the EU at CSD-15 and generate considerable debate. The EU representative lamented that omission of the two points at the IPM may needlessly delay negotiations at CSD-15 and "put at risk the legitimacy and reputation" of CSD, "already under scrutiny since the last CSD cycle." (Note: A G-77 representative had privately warned that some EU delegates want to see CSD collapse in the belief that would help spur the EU's push for creation of a new UN Environment Organization. End note.) Several other delegations also commented that the IPM outcome document bore a strong OPEC stamp in its positive reference to fossil fuels. (Note: The CSD Chairman is Qatar's energy minister. End note.) ¶5. (U) The U.S. delegation, the G-77, and others raised concerns with the scope of the EU's proposals for a review mechanism, particularly the possibility for such a mechanism to recommend further policies in the future. On the commitments basket proposal--received skeptically by the G-77--the U.S. delegation laid down a marker that such an approach would need to track with the non-intrusive precedent set by the CSD Partnerships Database (i.e. voluntary reporting, no UN report cards). -------------- U.S. Preaches Practical Solutions -------------- ¶6. (U) The bulk of the IPM was devoted to a series of panel discussions on the four themes, as well as a special session focusing on Small Island Developing States (SIDS),who USUN NEW Y 00000196 002 OF 002 highlighted the particular energy, climate change and pollution challenges confronting their vulnerable nations. ¶7. (U) The U.S. opening statement and subsequent interventions in the panel discussions (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd15/statements ipm.htm) focused on actions instead of words, using a "Featured Solutions" compilation (available via www.SDP.gov) to highlight practical and proven approaches from the CSD Matrix that can be scaled up and replicated elsewhere (e.g., standards and labels, phasing out leaded gasoline, nuclear energy, etc.). The U.S. delegation reinforced this approach by hosting an "Energy Efficiency Solutions Showcase" side-event during the IPM, with a panel of public and private-sector participants (including German government and South African electric utility representatives) highlighting concrete approaches that continue to deliver results. Key developing-state delegations praised the U.S. focus on action and implementation. The U.S. delegation likewise held briefings for interested NGOs at the start, mid-point and conclusion of the IPM to share priorities and solicit concerns. In contrast to the U.S. approach, most national delegations predictably devoted their IPM interventions to influencing the outcome document only. -------------- Next Steps -------------- ¶8. (U) The "Draft Negotiation Document" is now closed to further revision. The CSD Chairman will release a new draft negotiating text in resolution format on May 2 (the third day of CSD-15),to be followed by four days of negotiation. The U.S. was joined by Russia, Canada and Brazil at the IPM in calling for a lean, action-oriented negotiating text that neither re-opens nor reiterates previously negotiated text. ¶9. (SBU) The U.S. will use the coming weeks and first three days of CSD-15 to underscore our focus on scaling up and replicating best practices relevant to the four themes of the current cycle, and advocating that the negotiating text to be released on May 2 be short and non-duplicative of previous texts or parallel UN processes (such as climate change discussions in the UNFCCC). An interagency review will scan the IPM outcome document for text that fails this standard and might be deleted from the CSD-15 outcome document draft. There will also be further consultations within our JUSCANZ group (Japan, U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and others),and with the EU and the G-77. The EU will likely devote some effort to further elaborating its vague proposals on a follow-up mechanism and voluntary basket of commitments in a manner that might overcome the prevailing opposition at present. WOLFF