MISSION JAPAN INPUT FOR CONGRESSIONAL ENERGY REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 000558 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/ESC/IEC GRIFFIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG APER ABUD JA SENV SUBJECT: MISSION JAPAN INPUT FOR CONGRESSIONAL ENERGY REPORT REF: STATE 10743 ¶1. (U) The following, keyed to the specific queries contained in ref, is in response to the Department's request for input in preparing the report to Congress mandated in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It should be noted throughout, that while the Embassy's Economic Section, particulary its Economic Policy and ESTH Units, has responsibility for overall energy policy matters -- including advocacy and reporting, it works closely with the Mission's Department of Energy (DOE) attache in building Japanese support for U.S. programs and policies. ¶2. (U) Among the DOS employees in the Mission, in Embassy Tokyo's Economic Section (ECON),a total of ten staff, including the Economic Minister Counselor, five officers, one eligible family member (EFM),and three locally engaged staff (LES) spend a portion of their time on energy. The Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PAS),which includes the Cultural Affairs Office, the Press Office, the Information Resources Center and the Media Analysis and Translation Team (MATT), executes energy-related public outreach programming and media events and translates energy- and climate-related documents for Mission and USG use. The Public Affairs Section consists of five officers, one civil servant position, and 24 LES employees. In addition to these DOS-based staff, Embassy Tokyo includes a DOE office consisting of one direct hire attache and two LES employees who work full-time on energy issues. The Ambassador in January approved a DOE NSDD 38 request to add a second direct hire position. ¶3. (SBU) Japan imports approximately 85% of its energy needs and, as the world's second largest economy, is one of the top energy consumers. The country has long had a sense of vulnerability due to its heavy reliance on imported energy supplies, with most of its petroleum needs coming from Persian Gulf states, including Iran. One result of this reality is Japan shares our interest in peace and stability in the Middle East, although it can also mean a need to guard against divergences in certain aspects of policies towards some of the countries in that region. It is important as well to note Japan has one of the world's most advanced civilian nuclear energy programs and nuclear energy safety and physical protection issues are an area of mutual concern. The U.S. and Japan are also leaders in addressing climate change and again share many common views on the energy-related aspects of dealing with climate and the environment. Finally, China's economic growth and its impact on world energy markets is, and will continue to be, of interest to the U.S. and Japan with both governments looking at ways to engage China. ¶4. (U) Following is a detailed list of State Department Mission employees who work on energy matters, the percentage of time they devote to those issues, and a brief narrative of their activities. Embassy Tokyo Economic Section -------------- Economic Minister Counselor (10%) -- Engages with Japanese and U.S. government officials and representatives from the private sector on numerous energy-related policy questions including global and regional energy security, development and utilization of biofuels and alternative energy sources, and increased energy demand/production in China, India and other emerging market economies - including the climate change and other environmental impacts of those developments. Energy efficiency and development of new technologies to boost energy efficiency or otherwise improve energy security are also core focus areas. The Economic Minister Counselor conducts public outreach including speeches on energy/climate issues and participation in Japanese-organized panel discussions and seminars. Environment, Science and Technology Unit Chief (30%) -- Works with Mission Japan action officers, Department of Energy Attache, and National Science Foundation Attache, the GOJ, NGOs, and the private sector on energy issues including renewable energy research, development and deployment of climate change mitigation energy technology; Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP),and next generation nuclear technology. Activities include reporting, public outreach, and supporting high-level USG visitors engaging Japan on these issues. Economic Policy Unit Chief (5%) -- Supervises collection and reporting of energy-related information including editing TOKYO 00000558 002 OF 004 reporting cables, weekly Japan Economic Scope newsletter articles and other products. Supports visits by USG officials dealing with energy matters. EST Economic Officer (40%) -- Advocates USG positions and monitors Japan's evolving position on and plans for climate change policy, participates in conferences, and meets with Japanese officials. Reports on energy security and clean energy technology and tracks likely Japanese positions in international energy negotiations. Engages GOJ officials to win support for USG initiatives/thinking. Point person within ECON for working with Public Affairs on developing overall approaches for building Japanese understanding/support for U.S. positions on climate and other energy-related matters. EST Economic Officer (50%) -- Tracks nuclear energy developments in Japan and advocates with the GOJ for U.S. positions in GNEP, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG),and the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA). Encourages Japan to participate in renewable energy fora. Coordinates energy-related USG visits. Economic Policy Unit Economic Officer (30%) -- Monitors/reports on Japan's energy security policy, noting especially developments in Japan's overseas energy projects in the East China Sea, Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Engages GOJ officials, Japanese business figures, academics, and NGOs to inform about/advocate for USG positions on these matters. Serves as control officer for working level and senior USG visitors dealing with these issues. Works with DOE Attache to facilitate U.S. participation in G8 Energy Ministerial-related meetings. Economic Policy Unit Economic Assistant (EFM) (30%) -- Follows articles in the Japanese press relating to energy issues and reports them to Mission and Washington-based staff. Arranges and participates in meetings with GOJ and industry contacts. Reports on energy-related issues in the weekly Japan Economic Scope newsletter. Supports visits by U.S. officials dealing with energy-related matters. EST Economic Assistant (LES) (40%) -- Follows articles in the Japanese press relating to climate change and renewable energy issues and reports them to Mission and Washington-based staff. Arranges meetings for officers with GOJ and industry contacts and participates in those meetings, including with members of the Japanese Diet. Reports on energy-related issues in the Japan Economic Scope. Supports visits by members of Congress and other U.S. officials dealing with energy-related concerns. EST Economic Assistant (LES) (10%) -- Supports officers across a range of issues including renewable energy, energy security and nuclear energy. EST Economic Assistant (LES) (5%) -- Provides administrative support on nuclear energy-related diplomatic correspondence and energy-related visitors. Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs Section -------------- Information Officer (3%) -- Supervises energy-related activities of the press office, moderates conferences, and other media events devoted to energy. Assistant Information Officer (4%) -- Plans and executes energy-related media events for USG officials. Writes, reviews, and edits content for media reports and Embassy website. Responds to local media queries on USG policy issues. Assistant Information Officer (1%) -- Plans and executes programming in relation to the G-8 Energy Ministerial and leaders summit. Assistant Information Officer (8%) -- Selects, translates and edits energy-related documents for Mission and other USG use; plans and executes media events. Publishes content to Embassy website. MATT Chief (15%) -- Selects, analyzes and translates media articles and commentaries, including on global warming and other climate-change themes; supervises the team of translators who monitor press and translate relevant press reports. TOKYO 00000558 003 OF 004 Twenty-four locally employed staff (various) -- Assist officers and MATT Chief as outlined above. Cultural Affairs -- Executed, for example, a speaker program featuring a representative from the Department of Energy who traveled to five cities in Japan to speak on energy issues. The Embassy staff to support the speaker included one officer (40% of one week),and two LES (75% of two weeks and 75% of one week respectively). Information Resource Center - Locally employed staff spent approximately 112 hours total over the year arranging local speakers, working with reference material, placing information on the Embassy's website and sending out energy articles to email newsletter subscribers. Embassy Tokyo Fund Outlays -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The total estimated funds spent by Embassy Tokyo on energy-related issues is: Personnel - $1,155,320 Programming - $13,916 Congen Sapporo -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Consul General (5%) -- Discusses policy and commercial issues with contacts, speaks to local business community, and does interviews with print and broadcast media. Economic Officer (25%) -- Reports on energy sector developments including renewable energies, new technologies, and hybrid/biomass research. Arranges visits for DOE staff and CODELs. Economic Assistant (LES) (20%) -- Reports on energy sector including renewable energies, new technologies and hybrid/biomass research. Arranges visits for DOE staff and CODELs. Three Public Affairs Assistants (LES) (5%) -- Arrange programs for Embassy officers and IIP Bureau speakers on environmental issues; answer questions, and distribute via e-mail information related to U.S. policies and technology advancements. Analyze/monitor local media stories. Senior Political Advisor (LES) (1%) -- Assists ECON staff with trade promotions and contacts energy companies on behalf of CG. ¶7. (SBU) The total estimated funds spent by Congen Sapporo on energy-related issues is: Personnel - $207,200 Programming - $400 Congen Osaka-Kobe -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Political-Economic section, consisting of one FSO and two LES employees, handles energy issues. Pol-Econ Officer (5%) -- Maintains contacts with power companies, energy and climate technology companies, and research facilities. Visits and reports on nuclear power facilities in the district and facilitates visits to nuclear power facilities by Embassy staff and Washington-based USG visitors. Economic Assistant (LES) (5%) -- Maintains contacts with power companies, energy and climate technology companies, and research facilities. Reports on energy-related developments and facilitates visits to nuclear power facilities by Embassy staff and USG visitors. ¶9. (SBU) The total estimated funds spent by Congen Osaka-Kobe on energy-related issues is: Personnel - $29,300 Programming - $2,450 Consulate Fukuoka -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The Political-Economic section handles energy issues. Economic Officer (20%) -- Directs post's reporting on energy and climate issues. Attends seminars and meets with Japanese government officials, private sector representatives, and U.S. and Japanese researchers in the energy and climate TOKYO 00000558 004 OF 004 fields. Economic Assistant (LES) (25%) -- Responsible for environmental and energy issues, and in particular alternative energy, including reporting, establishing and maintaining contacts. Organizes commercial events and identifies potential business opportunities for U.S. companies. ¶11. (SBU) The total estimated funds spent by Consulate Fukuoka on energy-related issues is: Personnel - $121,700 Congen Naha -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Economic Assistant (LES) (5%) -- Monitors and reports on energy and climate change issues and supports visits by Embassy and Washington-based USG visitors. ¶13. (SBU) The total estimated funds spent by Congen Naha on energy-related issues is: Personnel - $4,300 Consulate Nagoya -------------- ¶14. (SBU) The Political-Economic Section is responsible for energy issues. Principal Officer (5%) -- Maintains contacts and visits with automotive, aerospace, and firms using new technologies to promote energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Supports visits by Embassy and Washington-based USG officials. Recently wrote Japanese language op-ed column on American climate change policy which was published in regional newspaper with 2.8 million circulation. Public Affairs and Information Resource staff (3 LES, 5%) -- Follow media reporting on energy and climate change issues; support programming. Pol-Econ Assistant (LES) (5%) -- Researches and reports on energy and climate change issues, with a particular focus on automotive, aerospace and rail technologies developed in the district. ¶15. (SBU) The total estimated funds spent by Consulate Nagoya on energy-related issues is: Personnel - $42,300 Programming - $900 Overall Totals -------------- ¶16. (SBU) Total estimated funds for the Japan Mission: Personnel - $1,555,120 Programming - $17,666 SCHIEFFER