CLIMATE TO REMAIN PRIORITY UNDER NEW ENVIRONMENT

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001987 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV PGOV CO SUBJECT: CLIMATE TO REMAIN PRIORITY UNDER NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER REF: BOGOTA 294 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The environmental and economic costs of climate change have resulted in increased GOC efforts to adapt to its potential impacts. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is most concerned with the effects of climate on Colombia's high mountain areas, Caribbean Coast, and its health sector. The MOE's Office of Climate Change (OCC) said it will focus on those areas in its Second Kyoto Communication and in its up-coming national climate change policy. However, while the MOE is pleased that the prioritization of climate will continue with the recently appointed Environment Minister Carlos Costa, local experts question his ability to politically maneuver and advance his agenda vis-a-vis other powerhouse ministries. END SUMMARY. Focus on Climate Change to Continue -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The director of the OCC Andrea Guerrero told us the recent appointment of Carlos Costa will ensure GOC prioritization of climate issues. (NOTE: Costa, a water and climate expert who previously served as the Director of Colombia's Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM),was appointed Minister April ¶4. END NOTE.) Guerrero said her office is "very excited and happy" with his appointment, as he has a background of promoting studies and projects regarding climate, even before it became of global importance. She noted, however, that the GOC's priority areas -- high mountains, Caribbean coast and health sector -- would remain consistent in its Second Kyoto Communication and pending national climate change policy (ref A). Priority Areas: High Mountains, Caribbean Coast, Health -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) The GOC considers the high Andean ecosystems, specifically its wetlands and glaciers, to be particularly vulnerable. Sandra Lopez from the OCC stated that fifty percent of Colombia's glaciers have disappeared in the last fifty years, threatening biodiversity and the wetlands that serve as water regulators. Lopez said the GOC is equally concerned with the resulting loss of economic benefits such as soil protection, food and water supply, and basin regulation, that wetlands generate. The IDEAM Adaptation Director Maria Ordonez said expected sea-level increases also threaten Colombia's Caribbean coast, while the Pacific Coast will be less affected. Ordonez expects Colombia's Caribbean sea level to rise by 40 centimeters by 2050, producing flooding that may overwhelm land-based ecosystems and coastal infrastructure. She said the GOC is developing an adaptation plan for San Andres and Providencia, which flooding would most affect. Ordonez said health was the third GOC priority, given that twenty million Colombians live in areas where temperatures rises will increase the spread of dengue and malaria. Obstacles: Funding and Ministerial Support -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Lopez said that while the GOC dramatically increased the budget of the OCC within the past year, increasing its ability to outreach and promote policy, there is still insufficient funding to implement projects. She said that without international funding, the GOC could not generate climate scenarios nor implement adaptation programs. Lopez noted that OCC was especially concerned with its ability to acquire financial and personnel support from other ministries. She highlighted delays in interagency approval of the national climate change policy, which the MOE hoped to publish last month, as emblematic of lack of consensus amongst the involved ministries. Lopez said other ministries verbally support climate initiatives but are hesitant to take on commitments. ¶5. (U) Ordonez said, however, that the MOE had made progress decentralizing climate, grouping departmental environmental authorities into 8-10 regional centers to develop regional-based climate policies in contrast to the present Bogota-centric arrangement. The MOE expects all centers to function by the end of 2009. She added that the MOE's territorial development sub-ministry must now also include climate considerations and consult with the OCC when doing municipal planning. Economic Effects Not Adequately Studied -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Andrea Lampis, professor at Colombia's premier university Los Andes, added that while the GOC is taking strides to promote monitoring and adaptation of environmental effects in its priority areas, it is not devoting sufficient to the potential social and economic impacts of climate. Lampis argues that the GOC needs to adopt a "multi-dimensional approach" rather than focus on the same specific areas. He said the GOC tends to react to issues rather than getting ahead of them, and that its approach to climate is no different; complaining that the GOC only acts in response to international pressure. Ordonez agreed that the GOC has yet to produce one study regarding climate's economic or social impact, which could be devastating considering Colombia's dependence on agricultural and hydropower, as well as its deficits in infrastructure. Lampis lamented that the GOC has been focused on its national climate change policy for over two years, rather than helping vulnerable communities -- especially those dependent upon agriculture -- prepare and adapt. Comment: Technical Skills Only Go So Far -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The appointment of Minister Costa was roundly applauded by the environmental community, convinced that the Uribe Administration had finally internalized an environmental ethic that went beyond the personal initiative of former Minister Lozano. One contact enthused that Costa is the "first true environmentalist" appointed as environment minister. However, as the delays in approving the national climate policy has shown, reaching governmental consensus on an issue as complicated and combustuous as climate change requires immense political skills. It is unclear whether Costa possesses sufficient political punch to achieve to do battle with other ministerial heavyweights and achieve the ministry's lofty environmental goals. Brownfield