Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK446
2008-05-19 22:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

CONNAUGHTON, DOBRIANSKY BRIEF SYG ON MAJOR

Tags:  ECON SENV KGHG TRGY TSPL UNGA 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 192236Z MAY 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4298
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY MEXICO
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMEMBASSY WARSAW
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000446 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV KGHG TRGY TSPL UNGA
SUBJECT: CONNAUGHTON, DOBRIANSKY BRIEF SYG ON MAJOR
ECONOMIES PROCESS

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Summary
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UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000446

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV KGHG TRGY TSPL UNGA
SUBJECT: CONNAUGHTON, DOBRIANSKY BRIEF SYG ON MAJOR
ECONOMIES PROCESS

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Summary
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1. (SBU) In a May 6 meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban,
CEQ Chairman Jim Connaughton and U/S Dobriansky briefed on
progress in discussions within the Major Economies Meeting
process toward a Leaders Statement in July. They also shared
details on new U.S. domestic legislation and the recently
announced U.S. medium-term emissions goal, as well as
optimism over the pace of international negotiations under
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The
Secretary-General appreciated U.S. leadership and engagement,
noting the key role and responsibility of the U.S. in a
future global agreement. End summary.


2. (U) Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global
Affairs Paula Dobriansky and White House Council of
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairman Jim Connaughton,
accompanied by staffers and USUN notetaker, paid a call May 6
on UN Secretary-General (SYG) Ban Ki-moon to discuss latest
developments in the Major Economies Meeting (MEM) on Energy
Security and Climate Change process and the Bali Action Plan
negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). The SYG was joined by Assistant
Secretary-General for Policy Planning Robert Orr, Chef de
Cabinet Vijay Nambiar, Deputy Chef de Cabinet Kim Won-soo,
First Officer from the SYG's executive office Luis
Jimenez-McInnis, and Department of Economic and Social
Affairs Development Policy Director Rob Vos.


3. (U) After exchanging compliments for the new South Korean
government's engagement in climate change discussions, of
which SYG Ban keeps close track (new ROK Prime Minister Han
recently served as one of the SYG's special climate change
envoys),Connaughton and Dobriansky updated the SYG on
progress and outstanding issues in the MEM process.
Emphasizing U.S. leadership and engagement, Connaughton
provided the SYG's team with data concerning major new
incentives and binding U.S. mandates, including those
contained in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act,
which was passed with strong bipartisan and White House
support last fall. Connaughton likewise elaborated further
on President Bush's April 16 speech in which he announced a

U.S. mid-term target of achieving peak greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions by 2025 and reducing emissions thereafter. He
reassured the SYG that U.S. emissions would maintain a
shallow trajectory until 2025, pointing out that UN data for
2000-2006 show an actual 3 percent decline in U.S. GHG
emissions when carbon sinks are incorporated, a figure which
compares favorably to other major economies such as the
European Union over the same period.


4. (SBU) Connaughton outlined the program for upcoming MEM
meetings as member states work diligently on a Leaders
Statement to be issued at the July 9 MEM Leaders Summit in
Japan. A meeting of MEM experts will take place in
Washington, DC on May 20-21, followed by a meeting of senior
MEM delegates in South Korea in the latter half of June.
Connaughton and Dobriansky shared details on the draft text
in its current form, and described some of the sticking
points still under discussion and the stances of key MEM
states on those issues. In particular, Connaughton
highlighted discussions underway regarding a long-term global
goal for emissions reductions, how mid-term national plans
and strategies might be reflected in a future biding
international agreement, the role of sectoral approaches, and
opportunities for mobilizing financing, including reducing
tariff and non-tariff barriers on 43 environmental goods and
services identified by the World Bank.


5. (SBU) U/S Dobriansky pointed out the progress in MEM
discussions had a tangible impact on UNFCCC Ad Hoc Working
Group negotiations held in Bangkok in April, further
reinforcing the fact that the MEM is fully consistent with,
and intended to contribute to, the UNFCCC track. While many
key issues remain and ambitions are high, Dobriansky
expressed optimism for further productive discussion in the
next round of UNFCCC talks in Bonn, and for the UNFCCC
Conference of Parties (COP) meeting in Poznan, Poland in
December. She described her productive consultations with
Poland regarding the coming COP.


6. (SBU) Connaughton highlighted the climate language in the
recent North American Leaders Summit statement as a sign that
key emerging economies like Mexico might be willing to take a
stronger step forward at the July MEM leaders summit.
Connaughton and Dobriansky invited the SYG to encourage
further flexibility and progress among key MEM states in
those areas where agreement seems within reach.


7. (SBU) Sticking closely to his prepared talking points, the
SYG emphasized the high hopes for a new climate change regime
sparked by the UNFCCC COP in Bali last December. He
appreciated U.S. leadership and engagement in convening the
MEM and adopting new domestic legislation, saying he was
encouraged by what he heard in this meeting despite some of
the international criticism following the President's April
16 speech. He nevertheless said the U.S. remains in the
spotlight as the most critical country to a future climate
change regime, which translates to a tremendous
responsibility as well. He reiterated familiar calls that
the U.S. "lead by example" and show flexibility, to ensure
that the MEM feeds into the UNFCCC process, and to work
diligently to engage developing countries, including but not
only the major ones. The SYG welcomed U.S. efforts to
achieve near-term results and agreed that 2008 is a critical
period for progress, expressing worry that any new U.S.
Administration in 2009 may require too many precious months
to get itself fully organized and engaged in international
climate negotiations, which would make it difficult to reach
an international agreement by the end of that year.


8. (U) CEQ and G have cleared this cable.
=Khalilzad


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