NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT VICE-MINISTER INTERESTED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000108 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, OES/EGC, OES/STC STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE, G/ENV STATE PASS TO EPA/OIA (DENNIS CUNNINGHAM AND MARK KASMAN) STATE PASS TO NOAA/NOS/OIA (JONATHAN JUSTI) BANGKOK PASS TO RDMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG ECON KGHG VM SUBJECT: NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT VICE-MINISTER INTERESTED IN CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FUND Ref: A. 08 State 7475 B. 08 State 1110 C. 07 Hanoi 2053 HANOI 00000108 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Michalak met with Vietnamese Senior Vice-Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Nguyen Cong Thanh to highlight U.S. efforts to combat climate change. Thanh, who oversees MONRE's climate change portfolio, stated that MONRE has begun to craft a National Action Plan for adapting to climate change. Ambassador Michalak highlighted that the United States had joined the Bali consensus and stressed recent U.S. actions to reduce our carbon footprint. Thanh expressed particular interest in the proposed Clean Technology Fund. End Summary. Ambassador Michalak Highlights U.S. Contributions -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On January 30, relying on recent State Department guidance (refs A and B),Ambassador Michalak told Senior Vice-Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Nguyen Cong Thanh that the United States was pleased to join the global consensus in support of the Bali Roadmap, which included commitments by all participants to consider measurable, reportable and verifiable actions to mitigate climate change. Indeed, the United States had already enacted a new energy law which would reduce carbon dioxide emissions through energy conservation, mandatory increased fuel efficiency standards, and greater use of biofuels. Ambassador Michalak described the U.S. proposal for an international fund to finance clean technology investments, which would have particular relevance for Vietnam. Some Praise for U.S. Efforts -------------- ¶3. (SBU) MONRE Senior Vice-Minister Nguyen Cong Thanh, who led the Vietnamese delegation to Bali and spearheads GVN climate change efforts, praised "creative" U.S. measures which paved the way for future global discussions. He agreed that all nations must play a role in responding to climate change. At the same time, as one of the nations likely to face the most severe consequences from climate change, Vietnam had hoped to see more international progress by now. Vietnamese Response to Climate Change -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Thanh confirmed that the GVN had assigned MONRE to take the lead in developing a national action plan on adaptation to climate change, a first draft of which is due in the second quarter of 2008. The plan will focus on the Mekong and Red River deltas, which may suffer from drought, floods, and increased salinity. In addition to adaptation measures, the plan will include emissions cuts, even though Vietnam is not required to do so under the currently-operative Kyoto Protocol. Vietnam is looking for measures that would improve economic efficiency, while contributing to the collective effort to fight global warming, and is quite interested in energy efficient technologies and cleaner production methods and equipment. Thanh focused particularly on the clean technology fund proposed by the United States and requested more information about how Vietnam might take advantage of this source of financial support. U.S. Assistance -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Noting the concern expressed by MONRE Minister Pham regarding the perceived lack of U.S. assistance to Vietnam (Ref C), Ambassador Michalak stated that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had agreed to review and comment on the draft Vietnamese national action plan. Additionally, U.S. programs promoting cleaner coal technologies and compact florescent light bulb standards would benefit Vietnamese climate change efforts. As the GVN further developed its climate change policies, we would look for other possible ways to assist, particularly in the area of hydro-meteorology. Thanh, who has traveled to the United States on three occasions for hydro-meteorological training and discussions, agreed that this should be a focus. Thanh also concurred with the Ambassador's suggestion that MONRE should join the Vietnamese delegation to the upcoming Science and Technology Joint Committee HANOI 00000108 002.2 OF 002 Meeting in Washington, which would provide the opportunity for in depth discussions with U.S. counterparts on climate change adaptation techniques. MICHALAK