UAE REQUEST TO ATTEND MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM ON ENERGY AND

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000331 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMMENT FOR NEA/ARP DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/ESC/IEC/ENR (MONOSSON, SECOR, THOMPSON) AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB (BHALLA) NSC FOR JOST E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG ECON PREL PGOV AE SUBJECT: UAE REQUEST TO ATTEND MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE REF: ABU DHABI 329 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This cable contains an action request in para 3. ¶2. (SBU) In a March 30 letter, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash asked the Ambassador for assistance with a matter "extremely important" to the UAEG: an invitation to the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Washington April 27-28. Gargash noted that "renewable energy is of great importance to [the UAE] and we will be making a profound investment in developing the technology and know-how for renewables." He added that "a UAE presence...would be mutually beneficial, and greatly contribute to the achievement of tangible outcomes." ¶3. (SBU) Background and Action Request: As outlined in reftel, the UAE is investing heavily in renewable technologies and related research in an effort to promote renewables production and consumption. With significant political will and financial resources, the UAEG is actively raising its profile in international energy fora, particularly related to renewables. Post appreciates Washington guidance at the earliest opportunity. ¶4. (SBU) The text of the letter is provided below; a copy has been forwarded to NEA/ARP. Begin text: Date: 30/03/2009 HE Mr. Richard Olson US Ambassador United Arab Emirates Your Excellency, I am writing to request your assistance on a certain matter which is extremely important to the UAE government. We have noted with interest the recent announcement by President Barack Obama, inviting the leaders of 16 major economies to Washington for a forum on energy and climate next month, as announced by the White House last Saturday. The forum is scheduled for April 27-28 and aside from the United States, the 16 other participating countries are Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Because of the UAE's strong commitment to renewable energy and climate change issues through initiatives such as Masdar the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to formally request an invitation to the forum in Washington. The matter of renewable energy is one of great importance to this country and we will be making a profound investment in developing the technology and know-how for renewables. We would appreciate the opportunity to contribute to President Obama's impressive initiative as the UAE is an energy producing country that aims to be at the heart of the renewable energy future with perhaps the largest government-funded renewable energy program in the world. As hosts of the world's largest annual international renewable energy summit we have valuable insights to contribute, and through the work of Masdar we will be an important player in the ability for Governments around the world to meet their renewable energy targets in the future. Based on these reasons, a UAB presence at President Obama's energy and climate change forum would be mutually beneficial, and greatly contribute to the achievement of tangible outcomes at the event. On a separate but related matter, the UAB will also be formally submitting a bid for Abu Dhabi to become the interim and eventually permanent home of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Masdar City-the world's first zero-carbon, zerowaste city powered completely by renewable energy. Many of the coW1tries invited to the event in Washington are also members of IRENA and will be voting on the headquarters location. Though several other capitals will be competing for the honour of hosting IRENA, we believe that Abu Dhabi is more uniquely suited for this role than any other city in the world. For IRENA to succeed, I believe the agency needs to be at the center of renewable energy revolution. The leadership of the UAB has set out a long-term plan that will leverage its substantial resources and experience in global energy markets towards the technologies of the future. Servicing as the home to IRENA is the next natural progression in our country's plan to become a global centre of excellence for renewable energy research, development and innovation. I hope to hear a positive response from you in the near future. Warm regards, Anwar Gargash Minister of State for Foreign Affairs End text. Olson