COPENHAGEN IS THE #1 ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITY FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000106 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY TRGY, TSPL SUBJECT: COPENHAGEN IS THE #1 ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITY FOR THE CZECH PRESIDENCY ¶1. (U) On January 21, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment Martin Bursik appeared before the European Parliament's Environment Committee to discuss the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers (running from January until June 2009). Bursik listed four priority areas for action: (1) Climate change, (2) Environmental protection (public health),(3) Sustainable production and consumption, and (4) biodiversity. He focused primarily on the EU's preparations for the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December 2009 as well as future EU consultations with the U.S. and other international partners on the preparation of an international climate agreement. Pavel Zamyslicky, the Director of the Climate Change Office in the Ministry of Environment confirmed to USEU and Embassy Prague EconOffs that Copenhagen will be the Ministry's primary priority through the Presidency. -------------- -------------- EU Ministerial meetings to discuss strategy for Copenhagen -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Minister Bursik announced that the Commission Communication on the EU's strategy towards Copenhagen will be presented on January 28. It is meant to serve as the basis for discussions during the March 2 Council of Environment Ministers, the March 10 Council of Finance Ministers, as well as the March 19-20 European Council bringing together the EU's 27 heads of state. An informal Environment Council originally planned for June has been brought forward to early April. With regard to a future EU financial instrument for the funding of mitigation and adaptation projects in third countries (to be mainly funded through proceeds of auctioned emission allowances),Bursik said that at an informal lunch of Finance Ministers on January 20, ministers had expressed their optimism about its creation. ¶3. (SBU) From Zamyslicky's perspective, the final agreement in Copenhagen should encompass four areas: emissions mitigation in industrialized countries; actions in developing countries; financial sources for adaptation; and governance of financial sources for mitigation actions. The biggest issue for the EU, he explained, is how to address comparability of nations. He acknowledged that not all developing countries are equal, but that the process of how to differentiate among these countries is still up for debate. The EU, in its Council conclusions in March, should lay out its views on emission trajectories and appropriate actions for developing countries. -------------- Consultations with USG Counterparts -------------- ¶4. (U) The Czechs are very keen to meet with the USG Climate team as soon as possible, both at the policy level and the working level. Bursik told Parliamentarians that he had scheduled a telephone call with Energy Coordinator Carol Browner to discuss EU-U.S. cooperation on the way to Copenhagen. (Note: This phone call is tentatively scheduled for January 28. End note.) In addition, he mentioned he had sent letters to Browner, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Energy Secretary Steven Chu to schedule meetings in Washington DC. Zamyslicky is most interested to know the makeup of the negotiating team, so that he can lead the collaboration as soon as possible. On the question of who should have the lead in international climate policy, Bursik said: "It would be good if we had some kind of competition between the EU and the U.S. on who should be the leader in climate change policy". ¶5. (SBU) Zamyslicky echoed the European wish to have a U.S. cap and trade system linked with Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). He acknowledged that there were several mistakes in the first phase of ETS, and that many of these have been corrected in the revisions adopted as part of the Climate and Energy Package. He expressed that the Package as adopted in December could be used as a good example for others. Ultimately, he explained, he would like to see OECD countries first develop a linked cap and trade system so that developing countries could eventually join as part of a fully global system. -------------- -------------- Visits to other major emitters and participation in summits -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Minister Bursik said the Sweden's Environment BRUSSELS 00000106 002 OF 002 Minister (Sweden will hold the EU Presidency from July - December 2009) and Environment Commissioner Dimas are planning a series of trips to discuss a future international climate change agreement. His initial schedule includes trips to India in early February, China and Japan in March, the G8 and G20 Summits in April, and Brazil and Argentina in May. Zamyslicky added Russia to the list, expressing that the Russians could be as much of a concern as either China or India. -------------- -------------- Implementation of the Climate Package left to Member States -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Zamyslicky stressed that the Czech Presidency will not be addressing the implementation of the Climate and Energy Package, passed in December. The only action he expects is for the Council to formally adopt the Package as passed by the Parliament-strictly a formality as all debate took place last year. Instead, he explained that it currently is up to the Member States to develop their national action plans to address emissions reductions and renewable energy development. The Czech Presidency, by contrast, has no current actions, as the Package outlined the timelines for the implementation. Instead, it is likely that the Spanish Presidency in the first half of 2010, and not the Swedes in the second half of this year, will be the first to work on implementation from Brussels. MURRAY .