INSTRUCTIONS ON CARBON NEUTRAL UN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 066810

SIPDIS
UN
NAIROBI FOR PERMREP
MONTREAL USICAO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC SENV KGHG UNEP
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON CARBON NEUTRAL UN



1. This is an Action Request. Please see paragraphs 6
- 9.


2. Summary: In 2007, UN Secretary General (SG) Ban Ki-moon
ordered the UN system (including UN agencies as well as UN
programs and funds) to become carbon neutral. UN agencies
implementing this directive are developing carbon
neutrality plans that may include both conservation
measures and carbon offsets. While we support and
encourage conservation, we oppose the purchase of carbon
offset credits using assessed contributions or U.S.
voluntary contributions. This message instructs posts to
deliver this position to UN agencies and to gather data
on existing and planned carbon neutrality measures at UN
agencies. End Summary.

BACKGROUND
--------------


3. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) is in
charge of the UN-wide effort to become carbon neutral.
UNEP asserts that it has already achieved carbon
neutrality. According to press reports, UN bodies will
use a variety of mechanisms to implement Ban's
neutrality goal - from conserving energy to carbon
offset purchases. UN agencies purchased nearly
$100,000 worth of carbon credits to offset their travel to
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
negotiations in Bali last December. Our concern is
related to how each UN agency will fund activities, like
purchasing credits, that are effectively outside of their
core competencies and mandates.


4. Carbon offset mechanisms are multiplying as this
activity gains popularity. The UN may use a mechanism
set up under the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM),for UN carbon offset
payments. The CDM focuses on investing in clean
energy technology in developing countries. Two
percent of the funds invested in the CDM are funneled
into the another Kyoto Mechanism, the Adaptation
Fund, which is managed by the Global Environment
Facility and addresses a wide range of issues to
help developing countries adapt to climate change.
Both mechanisms pose problems for the United States
because we are not a party to the Kyoto Protocol and
cannot legally fund Protocol mechanisms. If the UN
purchases credits through the CDM, it is in effect
subsidizing industrial development in emerging markets,
as well as contributing to the Adaptation Fund to finance
activities like building sea walls or investing in
agriculture. If UN bodies use their regular budget funds
for these purchases, money that Congress allocates to be
spent on those bodies' core missions will be spent on
purchasing carbon credits in realms outside their
individual mandates.


5. The USG position is that any UN purchases of carbon
credits must be financed by voluntary funds. We
cannot/not support use of assessed contributions from
the regular budget for this purpose. A decentralized
UN system means that this issue will be addressed in
the governing body of each UN agency, as well as the
governing bodies of many UN programs and funds.

ACTION REQUESTS
--------------


6. Posts are requested to find out what
the UN bodies within their purview are doing to implement
the SYG's request to become carbon-neutral, including how
they plan to calculate their carbon footprint, what steps
they intend to take to reduce their carbon footprint,
whether or not they plan to purchase carbon credits in
order to offset carbon emissions, and if so, how such
purchases would be financed and monitored. This request
includes the UN Secretariat and all UN field missions,
including peacekeeping operations and political missions.



STATE 00066810 002 OF 002



7. Posts are instructed to report proposals by UN bodies
to use either regular budget or voluntary funds to
purchase carbon offsets or otherwise move towards
carbon neutrality to IO for guidance (POC:
IO/EDA Rebecca Webber). Posts are instructed not/not to
agree to allocation of any assessed contributions
("regular budget funds") to purchase carbon offset
credits.


8. During discussions, Posts may wish to draw from the
following points:

-- The United States wishes to commend (insert name of
agency) for its commitment to addressing climate change
and reducing its carbon footprint.

-- The UN can simultaneously reduce its carbon footprint
and become a more efficient organization. We urge the UN
system to also look at ways to reduce its overall
environmental impact by, for example, reducing water and
energy use and reducing the production of solid waste and
the use of toxic substances, as well as reducing its
carbon emissions.

-- The United States enthusiastically supports measures by
UN bodies to reduce carbon emissions through conservation
and efficient management of resources. Various energy
saving measures, such as physical plant improvements,
reductions in travel, including by replacing official
travel with telephone or video conferencing, reducing
meeting frequency, coordinating meeting locations and
timing to minimize delegation travel, and reducing the
use of business class travel, will result in significant
cost-savings as well.

-- We understand that UN bodies are considering purchasing
carbon credits from either the Clean Development Mechanism
or another source. We have several concerns about this.

-- It is clear that the purchase of carbon offsets will
have budgetary implications and therefore must be
explicitly authorized by the agency's governing body.

-- We are not convinced that UN bodies will be able to
ensure that the credits go toward supporting verifiable,
transparent projects that contribute to each UN body's
core mandate. Most UN bodies do not have the resources to
engage in project identification or verification.
Moreover, by purchasing credits, many UN bodies may be
effectively funding activities that fall outside their
mandates.

-- Because of these concerns, we oppose the purchase of
carbon offset credits by the United Nations or bodies
within the UN system. In particular we will oppose any
proposal to use regular budget funds for this purpose.

-- The United States believes that achieving carbon
neutrality objectives should not impede the achievement of
primary UN mandates. Therefore we oppose short-term
efforts that divert resources away from the core
humanitarian, development, or social missions of UN
agencies.


9. Please slug responses to IO/EDA Rebecca Webber
(WebberRE@state.gov).
RICE