MAURITIUS HOPES CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES GO TO THE UN

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000297 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG UNGA SENV AORC MP SUBJECT: MAURITIUS HOPES CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES GO TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL REF: SECSTATE 87757 ¶1. On 28 August, DCM delivered ref points to Ambassador Jagdish Koonjul, who responded that Mauritius supports climate change issues being addressed by the UN Security Council. Koonjul noted that the Alliance of Small Island States should account for at least a quarter of the votes in the UN, thus making it very possible to force the issue to be raised to the UNSC-level. "If we don't manage to get the issue moved into the UNSC," he said "it will be our failure." ¶2. Koonjul said Mauritius sees the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the UNSC working together to ensure a decision on climate change which is enforceable. The GOM considers climate change to be a threat to peace and security, and thus considers the UNSC the correct body to take up the issue in parallel to the UNFCC. It is "high time" for the UN to develop binding decisions on climate change, he said. The GOM believes that bringing climate change to the UNSC via a resolution will help ensure much needed "binding decisions." ¶3. Embassy Comment: Climate Change issues are of great import to this island nation. It is not surprising to hear Ambassador Koonjul speak adamantly about the need for the UN to focus on climate change. It is a common refrain we hear from other Mauritian interlocutors, including the Prime Minister. End comment. CABRERA