Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS131
2009-10-01 15:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
CONGRESSMAN MARKEY SHOWS OPTIMISM IN VIDEO
how-toVZCZCXRO9303 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #1331/02 2741543 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 011543Z OCT 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INQO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLQECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DLHI
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001Q31
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY
TRGY, TSPL
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN MARKEY SHOWS OPTIMISM IN VIDEO
CONFERENCE WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION
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* Missing Section 001 *
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BRUSSELS 00000031 002 OF 003
confident in the Qoutstanding peopleQ and commitment
from the administration, he questions how flexible the
U.S. could be. He noted that there is a risk that the
agreement only serves to highlight what countries are
doing domestically and questioned what the UN
negotiating process adds to the debate in that
situation.
6. (SBU) The Chairman acknowledged FalkenbergQs
concerns, noting that it would certainly be better if
the entire Congressional process was complete by
Copenhagen. He expressed belief that significant
progress can be made to aid in the preparation for
Copenhagen. He relayed Congressional commitment,
explaining that after Waxman-Markey was submitted, the
Chairman travelled with Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi to China, where they met with several officials
at the top of the Chinese leadership to demonstrate U.S.
intent to pass legislation. Additionally, Waxman-Markey
contains several key provisions focusing exclusively on
international climate efforts. He explained that the
legislation allots approximately $5 billion/year to
address international deforestation, as well as up to $4
billion/year each for international clean technology
development and international adaptation. Addressing
outcomes in Copenhagen, the Chairman expressed that
ultimately, all countries must have a common plan by
which everyone is bound.
Carbon Markets Remain Commission Priority
--------------
7. (SBU) Beyond Copenhagen, a key message from the
Commission is the aim of a global carbon market, ideally
to be led by the creation of a transatlantic carbon
market. Falkenberg said that the United States and the
EU need to look now at how to link the markets.
However, he identified what he saw as two problems with
Waxman-Markey: the inclusion of border adjustment
measures and the existence of carbon price floors and
ceilings. (Note: In separate meetings with Commission
officials, the size and scope of the two systems has
also been cited as a potential problem. The EUQs
Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) makes up only 40-45% of
the EUQs economy, while Waxman-Markey covers 85% of the
U.S. economy, incorporating both road transport and
agriculture. It is the inclusion of agriculture that is
most often noted as the larger problem. The Commission
has indicated that it wants to set up a U.S.-EU working
group to address these concerns. End note.) The
Commission successfully fought against the inclusion of
either in ETS, and Falkenberg believes those could
present stiff obstacles. Additionally, Falkenberg
explained that the details of international offsets need
to be discussed and agreed, because only if the systems
equally maintain the integrity of projects can the
systems be linked.
8. (SBU) The Chairman was in full agreement that there
must be a way to link carbon markets and that offsets
are set up correctly. Addressing border adjustment
measures, he explained that many members are concerned
that China and others will take advantage of U.S.
environmental laws for a competitive advantage. The
provision written into Waxman-Markey is intended to send
a signal to the U.S. steel, aluminium, and concrete
industries. However, it is important to note that the
bill confers Presidential authority beginning only in
2020. By then, the Chairman argued, there should exist
a tight international regime, in which case there will
be no need for border measures.
9. (SBU) The Chairman concluded the DVC by stating that
China wants to be number one in everything, particularly
green technologies. As such, if the United States does
not move, it will be left behind. That is a key message
that needs to be sent to elicit Senate attention and
drive traditional U.S. technology optimism to solve a
problem, so that ultimately, the United States will
export technologies to China, and not the other way
around.
Comment
--------------
10. (SBU) The DVC was an effective method of delivering
the message from Washington to influential EU
***********************
* Missing Section 003 *
***********************
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY
TRGY, TSPL
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN MARKEY SHOWS OPTIMISM IN VIDEO
CONFERENCE WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
***********************
BRUSSELS 00000031 002 OF 003
confident in the Qoutstanding peopleQ and commitment
from the administration, he questions how flexible the
U.S. could be. He noted that there is a risk that the
agreement only serves to highlight what countries are
doing domestically and questioned what the UN
negotiating process adds to the debate in that
situation.
6. (SBU) The Chairman acknowledged FalkenbergQs
concerns, noting that it would certainly be better if
the entire Congressional process was complete by
Copenhagen. He expressed belief that significant
progress can be made to aid in the preparation for
Copenhagen. He relayed Congressional commitment,
explaining that after Waxman-Markey was submitted, the
Chairman travelled with Speaker of the House Nancy
Pelosi to China, where they met with several officials
at the top of the Chinese leadership to demonstrate U.S.
intent to pass legislation. Additionally, Waxman-Markey
contains several key provisions focusing exclusively on
international climate efforts. He explained that the
legislation allots approximately $5 billion/year to
address international deforestation, as well as up to $4
billion/year each for international clean technology
development and international adaptation. Addressing
outcomes in Copenhagen, the Chairman expressed that
ultimately, all countries must have a common plan by
which everyone is bound.
Carbon Markets Remain Commission Priority
--------------
7. (SBU) Beyond Copenhagen, a key message from the
Commission is the aim of a global carbon market, ideally
to be led by the creation of a transatlantic carbon
market. Falkenberg said that the United States and the
EU need to look now at how to link the markets.
However, he identified what he saw as two problems with
Waxman-Markey: the inclusion of border adjustment
measures and the existence of carbon price floors and
ceilings. (Note: In separate meetings with Commission
officials, the size and scope of the two systems has
also been cited as a potential problem. The EUQs
Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) makes up only 40-45% of
the EUQs economy, while Waxman-Markey covers 85% of the
U.S. economy, incorporating both road transport and
agriculture. It is the inclusion of agriculture that is
most often noted as the larger problem. The Commission
has indicated that it wants to set up a U.S.-EU working
group to address these concerns. End note.) The
Commission successfully fought against the inclusion of
either in ETS, and Falkenberg believes those could
present stiff obstacles. Additionally, Falkenberg
explained that the details of international offsets need
to be discussed and agreed, because only if the systems
equally maintain the integrity of projects can the
systems be linked.
8. (SBU) The Chairman was in full agreement that there
must be a way to link carbon markets and that offsets
are set up correctly. Addressing border adjustment
measures, he explained that many members are concerned
that China and others will take advantage of U.S.
environmental laws for a competitive advantage. The
provision written into Waxman-Markey is intended to send
a signal to the U.S. steel, aluminium, and concrete
industries. However, it is important to note that the
bill confers Presidential authority beginning only in
2020. By then, the Chairman argued, there should exist
a tight international regime, in which case there will
be no need for border measures.
9. (SBU) The Chairman concluded the DVC by stating that
China wants to be number one in everything, particularly
green technologies. As such, if the United States does
not move, it will be left behind. That is a key message
that needs to be sent to elicit Senate attention and
drive traditional U.S. technology optimism to solve a
problem, so that ultimately, the United States will
export technologies to China, and not the other way
around.
Comment
--------------
10. (SBU) The DVC was an effective method of delivering
the message from Washington to influential EU
***********************
* Missing Section 003 *
***********************