Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRASILIA131
2008-01-25 19:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

MAJOR ECONOMIES MEETING II: BRAZIL DELEGATION

Tags:  SENV KGHG ENRG KSCA BR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1607
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0131/01 0251920
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251920Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0927
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 1518
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 5731
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 7643
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000131 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G-D.ROCHBERG, OES/EGC-E.FENDLEY AND D.NELSON
DEPT PASS TO CEQ FOR R.DIXON AND M.MILLS AND A.SCHMITZ
ENERGY DEPARTMENT FOR S.EULE - CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG SENV ENRG KSCA BR
SUBJECT: MAJOR ECONOMIES MEETING II: BRAZIL DELEGATION

REF: A) STATE 5908, B) BRASILIA 97, C) 2007 BRASILIA 1952

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000131

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G-D.ROCHBERG, OES/EGC-E.FENDLEY AND D.NELSON
DEPT PASS TO CEQ FOR R.DIXON AND M.MILLS AND A.SCHMITZ
ENERGY DEPARTMENT FOR S.EULE - CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG SENV ENRG KSCA BR
SUBJECT: MAJOR ECONOMIES MEETING II: BRAZIL DELEGATION

REF: A) STATE 5908, B) BRASILIA 97, C) 2007 BRASILIA 1952


1. (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR
INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Brazilian delegation to the second Major
Economies Meeting (MEM2) in Honolulu has changed little in terms of
personnel. What we do see, however, is a remarkable change in terms
of their interest in seeing the Major Economies process work -
within the UN framework -- and optimism about the ability for this
process to make a contribution. END SUMMARY.

DELEGATION MEMBERS AND LOGISTICAL MATTERS


3. (SBU) Ambassador Everton Vieira Vargas, the Under Secretary for
Policy in the Ministry of Exterior Relations (MRE),will head up the
Brazilian delegation to the second Major Economies Meeting (MEM2) in
Hawaii, January 29-31. The rest of the delegation consists of:

-- MRE, Ambassador Sergio Barbosa Serra, Special Representative for
Climate Change
-- MRE, First Secretary Andr Odenbreit Carvalho, Director, Division
of Division for Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development
-- Ministry of the Environment - Dr. Thelma Krug, Secretary for
Climate Change and Environmental Quality
-- Ministry of Science and Technology - Dr. Jose Domingos Gonzalez
Miguez, Executive Secretary, Interministerial Commission on Global
Climate Change
-- MCT - Dr. Newton Paciornik, Technical Advisor, General
Coordination to Global Climate Change

(Note. Dr. Krug's husband, Mario Fumo Aoki, will be accompanying
her on the trip. End Note.)


4. (SBU) The Embassy has delivered as received the invitation
letter and the various materials provided by Washington, including
those referred to in REFTEL A. ESTH Counselor informed the
Brazilians about the two workshops to be held on January 29. They
have designated:

-- Paciornik to represent Brazil at the Workshop on Emissions, and
-- Odenbreit to represent Brazil at the Workshop on Clean
Technologies.


5. (SBU) The Brazilian delegation has made reservations at the

Sheraton Waikiki.


6. (U) MRE has informed Post that they would not need
interpretation into Portuguese.

BRAZILIAN PERSPECTIVE ON MEM PROCESS AND ON HAWAII MEETING


7. (SBU) At a January 12 meeting, Vargas told the Ambassador that
he would be heading the Brazilian delegation to MEM2. (REFTEL B)
ESTH Counselor met with the other members of the GOB delegation.
The mood of the delegation was upbeat and optimistic. This tone is
a far cry from their disappointment coming out of the MEM in
Washington in September and before the Conference of the Parties to
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali in
December. (See REFTEL C) Serra and Krug in separate meetings each
attributed this new tone to (1) the clarity that the MEM process is
subordinate to and feeds into the UNFCCC process, and (2) the USG
willingness joining consensus on the Bali Plan of Action. Serra was
particularly taken by the fact that the MEM2 draft agenda included
the subtitle "Developing a Detailed Contribution in Support of the
Bali Roadmap for UN Negotiations".


8. (SBU) The delegation members bring differing perspectives to the
climate change process. Miguez, who heads the interministerial
efforts on clean technologies, showed support for the USG's emphasis
on developing transformational technology. Miguez noted that he had
a long history of worked with U.S. counterparts on technology and
looked forward to strengthening this relationship in the future. On
the other hand, Krug - acknowledging that technology will play an
important role - stressed the need to look at other means to reduce
C02 emissions.


9. (SBU) MRE and MCT members of the delegation were interested in
the role of the expert workshops and how they will feed into the MEM
process. Since they will be able to have a participant at each of
the workshops, the initial bout of anxiety appears to have ended.


10. (SBU) Serra seemed concerned that the MEM meetings give other
countries opportunities to reach out to the press. He said the GOB

BRASILIA 00000131 002 OF 002


had been disappointed in the arrangements at the meeting in
Washington. In Hawaii and at future meetings, they would like a
representative from each country on the first day to make a brief
presentation with the press there. Also, at any press conference,
they want to have their representative there as a participant and
not merely sitting in the audience as an observer.


11. (SBU) Serra urged that MEM2 and the MEM process not give short
shrift to "adaptation" and give it something closer to the time and
attention of "mitigation".


12. (SBU) Krug suggested that the MEM process stay focused within
the four priorities identified by the UNFCC (mitigation, adaptation,
technology, and financing). Surprisingly, neither Krug nor anyone
else on the Brazilian delegation voiced any concern about the
inclusion of forests on the agenda. Comment. Often Brazilian
officials are sensitive about discussing forests and in this
environment with only one other developing country with tropical
forests (Indonesia) they might have been particularly reluctant to
have this on the agenda. End Comment.


13. (SBU) Comment. Although the GOB delegation is by and large
the same as went to Washington in September, the tone and
expectations seem much improved. The Brazilians seem to be going to
Honolulu with a view to try to make the MEM process make a real
contribution to the UNFCCC process. End Comment.

SOBEL