Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL1479
2008-07-25 04:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
PRESIDENT LEE'S CLIMATE INITIATIVE: MAKING KOREA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 07 OF 07 SEOUL 001479
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
STATE FOR OES/EGC AND EAP/K
STATE PASS EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ
DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL
COMUSKOREA CC PAS TO COMUSKOREA SCJS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG TRGY KGHG KS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT LEE'S CLIMATE INITIATIVE: MAKING KOREA
A "BRIDGE" BETWEEN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING
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SEOUL 00001479 007.2 OF 007
17. (C) When asked what form Korea's mid-term goal might
take, Kim said that it would likely be expressed as a
percentage reduction from business as usual (BAU). She said
studies were under way to forecast what the BAU case would
look like to provide the backdrop for such a goal. Asked if
Korea had considered announcing a target year for emissions
to peak, she said that the Ministry of Environment supported
2020, and MKE supported 2030. She predicted that the final
target would put the peak somewhere between 2020 and 2025.
18. (C) Noting that we had heard that the proposed EACP
would include the participants in the East Asia Summit, ESTH
Chief asked how developed countries such as Australia, New
Zealand and Japan would fit in. Kim said that the EACP idea
was embryonic and needed to be fleshed out to answer to such
questions. No significant consultations on the EACP had yet
taken place, she said, but would begin on the margins of the
August UNFCCC meeting in Accra.
COMMENT
--------------
19. (C) From post's perspective, President Lee's initiative
represents a significant step forward. By clearly and
publicly embracing the long-term global goal proposed by the
G-8, and by announcing a commitment to develop a national
plan with mid-term goals, Lee moved Korea more into line with
the developed countries and differentiated it from the Group
of Five major developing economies. Beyond acknowledging the
need to act domestically, Korea has taken the initiative to
help less-developed countries tackle mitigation and
adaptation with what is, for Korea, a very substantial
commitment of funds. Post believes this significant step
reflect in part the readiness of USG policymakers to invest
the time to develop a productive partnership with Korea on
climate change over the past few years. The likelihood that
Korea will follow through, despite the continuing resistance
of parts of the bureaucracy, is enhanced by the fact that, as
stated by Presidential secretary Kim Sang-hyup, President Lee
has personal ownership of the climate issue. It is further
strengthened by the fact that the first Korean to occupy the
top position in the UN, Ban Ki-moon, has also made climate a
top priority. Post believes that Lee's initiative should be
welcomed and encouraged. End comment.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
STATE FOR OES/EGC AND EAP/K
STATE PASS EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ
DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL
COMUSKOREA CC PAS TO COMUSKOREA SCJS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG TRGY KGHG KS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT LEE'S CLIMATE INITIATIVE: MAKING KOREA
A "BRIDGE" BETWEEN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
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* Missing Section 002 *
***********************
***********************
* Missing Section 003 *
***********************
***********************
* Missing Section 004 *
***********************
***********************
* Missing Section 005 *
***********************
***********************
* Missing Section 006 *
***********************
SEOUL 00001479 007.2 OF 007
17. (C) When asked what form Korea's mid-term goal might
take, Kim said that it would likely be expressed as a
percentage reduction from business as usual (BAU). She said
studies were under way to forecast what the BAU case would
look like to provide the backdrop for such a goal. Asked if
Korea had considered announcing a target year for emissions
to peak, she said that the Ministry of Environment supported
2020, and MKE supported 2030. She predicted that the final
target would put the peak somewhere between 2020 and 2025.
18. (C) Noting that we had heard that the proposed EACP
would include the participants in the East Asia Summit, ESTH
Chief asked how developed countries such as Australia, New
Zealand and Japan would fit in. Kim said that the EACP idea
was embryonic and needed to be fleshed out to answer to such
questions. No significant consultations on the EACP had yet
taken place, she said, but would begin on the margins of the
August UNFCCC meeting in Accra.
COMMENT
--------------
19. (C) From post's perspective, President Lee's initiative
represents a significant step forward. By clearly and
publicly embracing the long-term global goal proposed by the
G-8, and by announcing a commitment to develop a national
plan with mid-term goals, Lee moved Korea more into line with
the developed countries and differentiated it from the Group
of Five major developing economies. Beyond acknowledging the
need to act domestically, Korea has taken the initiative to
help less-developed countries tackle mitigation and
adaptation with what is, for Korea, a very substantial
commitment of funds. Post believes this significant step
reflect in part the readiness of USG policymakers to invest
the time to develop a productive partnership with Korea on
climate change over the past few years. The likelihood that
Korea will follow through, despite the continuing resistance
of parts of the bureaucracy, is enhanced by the fact that, as
stated by Presidential secretary Kim Sang-hyup, President Lee
has personal ownership of the climate issue. It is further
strengthened by the fact that the first Korean to occupy the
top position in the UN, Ban Ki-moon, has also made climate a
top priority. Post believes that Lee's initiative should be
welcomed and encouraged. End comment.
VERSHBOW