FINLAND TO JOIN METHANE TO MARKETS PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000231 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS FOR OES/EFENDLEY WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ/DBANKS EPA FOR DKRUGER AND PGUNNING E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG TRGY SENV EAGR FI SUBJECT: FINLAND TO JOIN METHANE TO MARKETS PARTNERSHIP REF: A. 07 HELSINKI 00131 B. 07 HELSINKI 00173 C. 07 HELSINKI 00580 ¶D. 07 HELSINKI 00751 ¶1. (U) On May 15th Finland announced its intentions to join the Methane to Markets Partnership (M2M),an international initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. Finland will be the 25th country to join this U.S.-led international partnership. In its letter of interest to join, Ms. Elina Kalkku, Director General from the Department for the Americas and Asia in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, said Finland plans to actively participate in M2M,s Agriculture and Landfills subcommittees. The Finnish Government sees methane as a valuable source of energy and as a substitute for fossil fuels in heat and energy production. The letter also states that Finland views &international cooperation as an important vehicle in developing new renewable and clean forms of energy.8 Finland is already a world leader in renewable energy production, with over one quarter of its energy coming from renewable energy sources. ¶2. (SBU) Finland,s decision completes the circle on post,s efforts to persuade Finland to join M2M following the inaugural High Level Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development (HLD) during Finland,s EU Presidency in fall 2006. The HLD Joint Press Release specifically listed &enhance methane recovery including through the Methane to Markets Partnership8 as one of the meeting,s conclusions. Since the HLD, the European Commission has also joined M2M. ¶3. (U) This announcement coincided with a visit by Dina Kruger, Director of the Climate Change Division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During her visit, Mrs. Kruger met with industry and government officials, including Economic Minister Mauri Pekkarinen. Mrs. Kruger also attended a UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group meeting in Helsinki on May 16th. ¶4. (U) Twenty-three times as effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, methane is a strong greenhouse gas that accounts for 16 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Since methane is a relatively short lived greenhouse gas, experts believe reductions in methane can produce quicker results than efforts focused on carbon dioxide such as the Kyoto Protocol. Also, methane has the dual benefit that it can be used as an effective source for clean heat and energy production, as well as transportation use. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Given the importance of climate change issues in the Nordic countries, Finland,s membership in M2M could open the door for other Nordic countries to join this initiative that promotes tangible actions for tackling climate change. With close proximity to the Arctic, Finns and others in Nordic countries are beginning to feel the effects of climate change quicker than those in southern areas. Coupling M2M efforts with the Arctic Council,s climate mitigation objectives may prove especially effective in mitigating methane emissions. End Comment. BARRETT