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. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶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 -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶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. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶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. -------------- FOR MORE INFROMATION -------------- ¶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