PRESIDENT LEE'S CLIMATE INITIATIVE: MAKING KOREA

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 *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** *********************** * 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