ACTION REQUEST: SOLICITING MEMBER STATE VIEWS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 099217 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG EAGR SENV ENRG TRGY EUN SIPDIS SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: SOLICITING MEMBER STATE VIEWS ON EU BIOFUELS SUSTAINABILITY REF: USEU 1171 THIS CABLE REPLACES STATE 98110 WHICH WAS SENT INCOMPLETE AND IN ERROR. ¶1. (U) This is an action request for all EU member posts. Please see paragraph 2 below. Embassy Paris, please see additional actions in paragraph 3. USEU Brussels, as you discuss this topic with member state representatives and others, please use points in paragraphs 2 and 3 as appropriate. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Department requests Posts in EU capitals pursue the following action plan: -- Report on the host government position with respect to the current EU consideration of sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction criteria for biofuels, to be incorporated in implementing regulations for the EU's "20-20-20 by 2020" Climate and Energy package. The French, currently holding the rotating EU Presidency, seek to achieve final approval of the Climate and Energy Package by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament by the end of ¶2008. -- Washington agencies are interested in the position of the host government regarding European biofuel mandates in general and specifically on the nature and expectations of sustainability criteria for biofuels, as well as the discrete positions of the agricultural, energy, and environmental ministries or authorities, and any intragovernmental differences in position. -- As appropriate, share with interlocutors the summary of U.S. and EU efforts to develop respective national sustainability criteria for biofuels in paragraph 5, and stress both the U.S. commitment to sustainable biofuels, and the efforts of the U.S., EU and others within the Global Bioenergy Partnership to develop common sustainability criteria. -- Washington is not seeking a formal intervention, but rather, engagement and discussion on this topic at the level Post deems appropriate. ¶3. (SBU) Additional action for Paris only: Discuss with appropriate French interlocutors, as representatives of the EU presidency: -- We hope that France will support continued U.S.-EU cooperation on development of science-based biofuels sustainability criteria. -- Existing cooperation between EC and U.S. scientific experts and regulators on this topic is mutually beneficial and should be strengthened. -- We are pleased France and other members of the EU have already committed under the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) to advance voluntary global biofuels sustainability criteria, indicators, and benchmarks by next spring. This multilateral effort provides another means to promote sustainability of biofuels. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE AND POINTS OF CONTACT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Posts should report results of effort by cable or e-mail to EUR/ERA Matthew Beh (202 647 1820, behmk@state.gov) and OES/EGC Drew Nelson (202 736 7444, nelsonds@state.gov) before September 23, 2008. -------------- BACKGROUND AND GUIDANCE POINTS -------------- ¶5. (U) Please draw from the following as appropriate. STATE 00099217 002 OF 003 BEGIN NON-PAPER TEXT Background on Parallel U.S. and EU Efforts on Biofuels Sustainability: -- Experts at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Department of State and other agencies are currently discussing criteria for assessing biofuels sustainability with their European Commission counterparts. The U.S. is also working with international partners through the Global Bioenergy Partnership to develop voluntary international sustainability criteria. -- The EU is considering mandatory sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction criteria for biofuels to be incorporated in implementing regulations for the "20-20-20 by 2020" Climate and Energy package. Such regulations are expected as part of a legislative package France, the current EU presidency country, would like to have finalized by both the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament by the end of 2008. -- The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) mandates a similar process in the United States. It would be preferable to have compatible, science-based criteria for measuring biofuels sustainability on both sides of the Atlantic. -- EISA calls for about a 15% biofuel share by 2022 with biofuels performance requirements for reductions in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. The mandatory lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction standards established in EISA range from 20 to 50 and 60% reductions off the baseline gasoline and diesel fuels they replace. Conventional biofuels produced from facilities constructed after enactment of EISA are required to meet a minimum 20% reduction; biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels a 50% reduction; and cellulosic biofuels a 60% reduction. EPA and other USG experts are using advanced modeling and other scientific methods to develop our own biofuels mandatory standards, as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard mandated by EISA. (EPA's publication of a draft rule is expected fall 2008.) -- (A note on terminology: "Standards," in this context, is the U.S. term for mandatory requirements. However, under EU law (as well as the WTO),a "standard" can be voluntary or mandatory. "Criteria" can be either mandatory, in EU context, or voluntary in U.S. context. The EISA requirements discussed in this cable are mandatory). -- At the February 2008 EU-U.S. biofuels dialogue in Washington, senior officials and experts from both sides agreed that second-generation biofuels from non-food feedstocks represent a major opportunity to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependency. Building on that foundation, EC regulators in a May 2008 bilateral videoconference expressed great interest in work conducted by the EPA, pursuant to EISA, on methodologies for assessing the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels. Building on that discussion, U.S. experts are currently preparing to present to their EC counterparts draft sustainability criteria being developed by a U.S. interagency Sustainability Working Group. The USG hopes the EC will present on the latest developments in the EC's work on sustainability criteria. Additional exchanges are also contemplated. -- The United States hopes to ensure that biofuels sustainability criteria developed by the EU are grounded in science and compatible with U.S. criteria and standards. This effort is distinct from, but complementary to and consistent with, U.S. and EU efforts in the Global Bio-Energy Partnership to develop voluntary, multilateral criteria and measurement methodologies for sustainability. Request for Information: -- Biofuels offer a powerful tool for achieving the EU's ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and are a critical element of U.S. national strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing energy security. -- The United States is interested to learn the STATE 00099217 003 OF 003 perspective of European Union member state governments on biofuels sustainability, particularly development of mandatory criteria for assessing biofuels sustainability. The United States is also interested to learn member state government views on the latest developments in the consideration of the Renewable Fuels Directive by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, including any views on timing and specific proposals. END NON-PAPER TEXT RICE