Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VATICAN147
2007-10-10 16:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
HOLY SEE REVIEWS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH APEC DIPLOMATS
how-toVZCZCXRO5898 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHKSO RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNAG RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHROV #0147 2831611 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101611Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0815 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION COLLECTIVE RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0845
UNCLAS VATICAN 000147
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV APEC VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REVIEWS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH APEC DIPLOMATS
REF: (a) State 140075, (b) Vatican 0129
UNCLAS VATICAN 000147
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV APEC VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REVIEWS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH APEC DIPLOMATS
REF: (a) State 140075, (b) Vatican 0129
1. Summary. At an October 8 diplomatic gathering, Charge drew
on recent high-level USG statements to provide Holy See and
other representatives with a broad view of USG activities
addressing climate change and the environment. Holy See deputy
FM Parolin confirmed in detail the Holy See's increasing
commitment to tackling the problem of climate change. End
summary.
2. Charge d'affaires joined ambassadors and DCMs from APEC
countries October 8 for an Australian-hosted discussion of
climate change and last month's Major Economies Meeting (MEM).
The guest of honor was Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's
Undersecretary for Relations with States (i.e. deputy foreign
minister). Participants included representatives from Russia,
Indonesia, Philippines, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Canada, and Taiwan;
most participants made brief presentations on their country's
position on climate change.
3. Charge drew extensively on ref A, USG websites, and the
speeches of President Bush, Secretary Rice, and CEQ Chairman
Connaughton at the Major Economies Meeting to present a detailed
view of the USG position on climate change and on the numerous
USG programs already in place (such as Methane to Markets,
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, GEOSS, REEEP, Congo Basin
Forest Partnership, et al.) to use technology to address key
environmental issues.
4. Parolin, who had represented the Holy See at UNSYG climate
meeting in New York, said he was impressed by the turnout, with
over 130 delegations, most at a very senior level. He noted
that some participants would have preferred a less formal
approach, but the meetings were nevertheless good and
operationally oriented. Drawing on his own remarks in New York,
Parolin recapitulated the Holy See position on climate; key
points follow in para 5.
5. -- The Holy See must be involved in this issue, which is a
critical ethical matter and a grave concern. Scientists,
experts, leaders, organizations, and all sectors of society and
each person have an inescapable responsibility and a "moral
imperative" to protect the environment.
-- Recent research on climate change has been comprehensive and
the results demonstrate the dangerous human interference with
climate. These results should neither be exaggerated nor
minimized for political reasons -- lack of mathematical
certainty is not a reason for delay.
--Poverty and the scandal of hunger remain. The international
community should adapt a coordinated strategy soon to determine
set of mitigation/adaptation activities at low cost.
-- Prudence and precaution are required, along with a change of
lifestyle; current models of consumption and development are
often not sustainable. We must change inbred selfish attitudes
toward resources.
-- There should be large-scale public-funded research into clean
energy alternatives, including market incentives.
6. Parolin pointed to two recent Holy See initiatives: its July
5 agreement with US and Hungarian companies to set aside a
7000-hectare forest in Hungary as a "Vatican climate forest" to
compensate for the Vatican's greenhouse gas emissions; and the
recent installation on the roof of the Paul VI audience hall of
solar panels. Parolin quoted Pope Benedict XVI's statement on
the World Day of Peace (in January of this year) on the fact
that disregard for the environment always harms peaceful
coexistence, and vice versa. In reply to charge's question,
Parolin confirmed that while the Holy See has long advocated
protection of the environment, Pope Benedict has clearly
embraced the issue in an intensive way.
Comment
--------------
7. As Parolin noted, the Holy See has visibly increased its
profile on the issue of climate change and the environment in
general, backing up repeated high-level calls for action with
tangible steps of its own. We can expect consistent Vatican
attention to this subject in the coming months. For our part,
the strong US role in promoting technological solutions to the
problem of protecting the environment while also encouraging
economic growth made an impression on participants, many of whom
were unaware of the broad scope of USG activities in this area.
SANDROLINI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV APEC VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REVIEWS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH APEC DIPLOMATS
REF: (a) State 140075, (b) Vatican 0129
1. Summary. At an October 8 diplomatic gathering, Charge drew
on recent high-level USG statements to provide Holy See and
other representatives with a broad view of USG activities
addressing climate change and the environment. Holy See deputy
FM Parolin confirmed in detail the Holy See's increasing
commitment to tackling the problem of climate change. End
summary.
2. Charge d'affaires joined ambassadors and DCMs from APEC
countries October 8 for an Australian-hosted discussion of
climate change and last month's Major Economies Meeting (MEM).
The guest of honor was Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's
Undersecretary for Relations with States (i.e. deputy foreign
minister). Participants included representatives from Russia,
Indonesia, Philippines, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Canada, and Taiwan;
most participants made brief presentations on their country's
position on climate change.
3. Charge drew extensively on ref A, USG websites, and the
speeches of President Bush, Secretary Rice, and CEQ Chairman
Connaughton at the Major Economies Meeting to present a detailed
view of the USG position on climate change and on the numerous
USG programs already in place (such as Methane to Markets,
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, GEOSS, REEEP, Congo Basin
Forest Partnership, et al.) to use technology to address key
environmental issues.
4. Parolin, who had represented the Holy See at UNSYG climate
meeting in New York, said he was impressed by the turnout, with
over 130 delegations, most at a very senior level. He noted
that some participants would have preferred a less formal
approach, but the meetings were nevertheless good and
operationally oriented. Drawing on his own remarks in New York,
Parolin recapitulated the Holy See position on climate; key
points follow in para 5.
5. -- The Holy See must be involved in this issue, which is a
critical ethical matter and a grave concern. Scientists,
experts, leaders, organizations, and all sectors of society and
each person have an inescapable responsibility and a "moral
imperative" to protect the environment.
-- Recent research on climate change has been comprehensive and
the results demonstrate the dangerous human interference with
climate. These results should neither be exaggerated nor
minimized for political reasons -- lack of mathematical
certainty is not a reason for delay.
--Poverty and the scandal of hunger remain. The international
community should adapt a coordinated strategy soon to determine
set of mitigation/adaptation activities at low cost.
-- Prudence and precaution are required, along with a change of
lifestyle; current models of consumption and development are
often not sustainable. We must change inbred selfish attitudes
toward resources.
-- There should be large-scale public-funded research into clean
energy alternatives, including market incentives.
6. Parolin pointed to two recent Holy See initiatives: its July
5 agreement with US and Hungarian companies to set aside a
7000-hectare forest in Hungary as a "Vatican climate forest" to
compensate for the Vatican's greenhouse gas emissions; and the
recent installation on the roof of the Paul VI audience hall of
solar panels. Parolin quoted Pope Benedict XVI's statement on
the World Day of Peace (in January of this year) on the fact
that disregard for the environment always harms peaceful
coexistence, and vice versa. In reply to charge's question,
Parolin confirmed that while the Holy See has long advocated
protection of the environment, Pope Benedict has clearly
embraced the issue in an intensive way.
Comment
--------------
7. As Parolin noted, the Holy See has visibly increased its
profile on the issue of climate change and the environment in
general, backing up repeated high-level calls for action with
tangible steps of its own. We can expect consistent Vatican
attention to this subject in the coming months. For our part,
the strong US role in promoting technological solutions to the
problem of protecting the environment while also encouraging
economic growth made an impression on participants, many of whom
were unaware of the broad scope of USG activities in this area.
SANDROLINI