REQUEST FOR EMBASSY TO ENCOURAGE HOST COUNTRY

UNCLAS STATE 009413

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ENRG EPET KGHG KPAO KSCA OPDC SENV SOCI TRGY XL
XM, XS
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR EMBASSY TO ENCOURAGE HOST COUNTRY
PLEDGE TO ADVANCE THE UPTAKE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AT THE
WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE
(WIREC) MARCH 4-6, 2008

REF: A.) STATE 563 B.) STATE 559 C.) STATE 521

NOTE: because of the large number of action addressees for
this cable, Department is sending
two duplicate cables, one to WHA posts (this cable) and the
other to posts outside of
WHA (septel)


1. This is an action request. Action request in para 9.

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SUMMARY
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2. Summary: This message provides background information on
how national governments can make voluntary pledges to
accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. These
national pledges, as well as pledges from other major
stakeholders, are regarded as a central outcome of the
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC).
We plan a dedicated session at WIREC to review these
pledges. Pledges can be made either on-line or by email.
Appropriate Embassy officials are requested to work closely
with their host country counterparts to encourage robust
national pledges to be announced at, or prior, to WIREC.
Washington agencies appreciate the strong Embassy support
that we have received in support of WIREC. End Summary

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BACKGROUND
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3. Background: In reftels, the Secretary invited host
governments to send delegations to WIREC 2008, the third
global ministerial-level event on renewable energy after Bonn
(2004) and Beijing (2005). WIREC will serve as a global
platform for ministers from more than 90 nations, and leaders
from sub-national governments, the private sector and civil
society to consider and discuss the benefits that policies
and best practices that encourage the rapid deployment of
renewable energy would have in their countries.


4. In the third paragraph of her invitation letter, the
secretary invited the host government to consider making a

SIPDIS
voluntary pledge at WIREC &to accelerate the deployment of
renewable energy in your country.8


5. We consider these voluntary national pledges, as well as
pledges made by other major WIREC stakeholders, will be a
major outcome of WIREC. We are dedicating a full session on
the last day of WIREC to publicize and discuss the pledges
that will comprise the Washington International Action Plan
(WIAP). At Bonn 2004, participants pledged 197 specific
voluntary actions which collectively became know as the Bonn
International Action Plan (IAP). For background on the kinds
of actions pledged at Bonn which may inspire WIAP pledges,
please visit the IAP website at www.REN21.net/iap


6. The development of the Bonn pledges has been ably
followed by, and reported on, by the secretariat of the
Renewable Energy Network (REN21) which was launched at Bonn.
REN21 is comprised of renewable energy policy leaders from
national governments, including the US, China, Germany, and
India; international organizations, such as the World Bank,
UNEP and the IEA; and civil society, such as the American
Council of Renewable Energy (ACORE). REN21 has kindly agreed
to consolidate, analyze, and follow-up in coming years on the
pledges made at WIREC. The live one-page WIREC pledge
template is housed on the REN21 website.


7. On the homepage of the USG,s official WIREC2008.gov
website, we have a green pledge bar prominently displayed at
the top of the left hand side of the page which when clicked
on provides detailed background information on the pledge
process, including examples of the wide variety of pledges
that governments or other major stakeholders might make.
Additionally, there are instructions on how to fill out a
one-page pledge template and a sample template is provided.
A web address is provided for those who prefer to fill out
the template on line. Alternatively, if the host government
prefers to email the pledge template, there are instructions
on how to do this. We anticipate that, in many countries,
more than one government entity will be in a position to make
a pledge and multiple pledges are welcome. In the event that
questions arise, a REN21 contact point is provided.


8. We want to emphasize that any pledges made prior to the
start of WIREC will be held in strict confidence by the WIREC
organizers. It is up to the host government to choose how
and when to announce its pledge. In select cases, in the
lead up to WIREC, the USG may contact a host government to
ascertain if they would consider making a public announcement
about their pledge prior to WIREC.

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ACTION REQUEST
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9. Action request: appropriate embassy officials, including
the designated WIREC POC, should work closely with
appropriate host country officials and entities who are
coming to WIREC to encourage them to take the internal steps
needed to allow a robust, voluntary national pledge to be
announced at, or prior, to WIREC. In embassy contacts with
appropriate host government officials, we suggest that hard
copies of the pledge information noted in para 5 be provided.

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FOR MORE INFROMATION
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10. Post questions about the WIREC pledge process can be
sent to Stan Specht, WIREC action group team leader at
spechtsh@state.gov.


11. Minimize considered.
RICE