INSTRUCTIONS FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS-DRAFTED GA

UNCLAS STATE 082276 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC UNGA SENV KGHG AORC SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS-DRAFTED GA RESOLUTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE REF: A. USUN681 ¶B. SNOWDEN-WEBBER E-MAIL 7/29/08 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. This is an Action Request (paragraphs 3 - 6) containing instructions for USUN (reftel) in its meetings with the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) on July 31 and in ongoing discussions and negotiations on their proposed UN General Assembly (GA) Resolution to introduce climate change into the UN Security Council. ¶2. USG has five main objectives in its engagement on the resolution "The threat of climate change to international peace and security" as proposed by the group of Pacific Small Island Developing States. These objectives are: -- Consolidate UN General Assembly climate change discussions into a single action to be addressed by the Second Committee at the 63rd GA. -- Allow time for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations to run their course. -- Avoid discussion of climate change in the UN Security Council. -- Show support for the PSIDS and express understanding of their climate change concerns. -- Minimize U.S. isolation. ¶3. USG Guidance: USUN should pursue these objectives by pressing the PSIDS to consolidate action on their resolution in the Second Committee during the 63rd GA. All GA action on climate change will be grouped in the same venue. ¶4. USUN may wish to draw from the following points: -- We recognize the seriousness of global climate change and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy security and promoting sustainable development. --We fully support UN efforts to address climate change, in particular the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and are committed to reaching conclusions under the UNFCCC on an economically sustainable and environmentally effective global framework to address the challenges of climate change. -- We value our close and historic ties with Pacific Island Nations. Secretary Rice's meetings with Pacific Ministers last week in Samoa demonstrate the importance we place on these relations. Indeed, much of their conversation was about climate change and renewable energy. -- The Second Committee is a more appropriate venue to discuss this; experts from capitals typically negotiate the regular climate change resolution during the fall session. Consolidating discussion on the PSIDS climate resolution will take advantage of this expertise. -- As this UNGA runs its course during the summer months, attention is focused elsewhere. Addressing this in the fall ensures more robust engagement. -- Further, the Second Committee's tradition of consensus ensures fruitful discussions. -- We have strong reservations on the implications of the content of such a resolution, specifically whether this issue is appropriate for the Security Council. However, in light of our close ties with the PSIDS and their strong support in the United Nations and on peacekeeping activities, we plan to fully engage and work cooperatively towards a mutually agreeable outcome. ¶5. In order to offer some flexibility USUN may, only as a fall-back, negotiate the proposed resolution, removing all references to Security Council action and specifying the time frame for the report from the Secretary General on the peace and security implications of climate change as the 64th GA. This would be a less preferable, but acceptable, compromise, allowing the PSIDS to press this issue while keeping climate change firmly out of the Security Council and allowing us to meet 3 objectives. ¶6. In pursuing this flexible position, USUN may wish to draw from the following additional points: -- This is indeed an important issue to be addressed. We support a thorough SYG report submitted for UNGA 64, to ensure ample time for complete analysis and reflect evolving UNFCCC issues. -- The Security Council already has a full agenda of matters that are very clearly immediate threats to international peace and security. -- UN bodies and international venues, with the appropriate mandates and expertise are already actively and seriously addressing all issues related to climate change. The U.S. will continue our leadership role, engaging with other nations on these issues through our bilateral and regional initiatives and at appropriate multilateral meetings. -- Further, we do not want additional UN action to detract from on-going UNFCCC negotiations, whose outcomes will supersede other decisions. RICE