Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA1088
2009-12-10 05:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AMB. BLEICH TALKS WITH STUDENTS ON WATER, CLIMATE LINKS
how-toVZCZCXRO2086 RR RUEHPT DE RUEHBY #1088 3440539 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 100539Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2415 INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9670 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3761 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9974 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0179 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2160 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6830 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5094 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5099
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001088
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/PO POVENMIRE, S/SECC SIERAWSKI, EAP/PPD, WHITE
HOUSE FOR CEQ, EPA FOR OIA GORKE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KPAO KGHG AS
SUBJECT: AMB. BLEICH TALKS WITH STUDENTS ON WATER, CLIMATE LINKS
REF: SECSTATE 123998
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001088
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/PO POVENMIRE, S/SECC SIERAWSKI, EAP/PPD, WHITE
HOUSE FOR CEQ, EPA FOR OIA GORKE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KPAO KGHG AS
SUBJECT: AMB. BLEICH TALKS WITH STUDENTS ON WATER, CLIMATE LINKS
REF: SECSTATE 123998
1. (U) Ambassador Bleich marked the first day of the Copenhagen
climate change conference (reftel) with a youth and environmental
outreach event at the National Museum of Australia. The museum is
hosting an exhibit, titled "Water H2O=Life," based on an exhibit by
the American Museum of National History. The Ambassador met with a
class of 24 students (ages 13-15 years) from a local Canberra public
high school who are studying climate change and accompanied them as
they viewed the exhibit, answering their questions on U.S. and
Australian climate change policies.
2. (U) At the conclusion of the student event, the Ambassador took
questions from the Australian media on the climate change talks in
Copenhagen and the recent defeat of PM Rudd's climate change
legislation here. The Ambassador noted the significant changes that
have occurred globally in support of an agreement, including
commitments by major developing countries to do more. Ambassador
Bleich characterized the recent Senate vote against national
cap-and-trade legislation in Australia as a "delay, not a defeat" in
government action on climate.
3. (U) The Ambassador is keen to engage young people and the public
early to reinforce the message that President Obama and the
Administration are committed to meeting the environmental challenges
facing the planet. This event was especially timely given the close
association in Australia between water and climate change and
increased public focus on climate change around the Copenhagen
conference. This event, the first of several public outreach events
where climate change will be a topic, supports MSP Goal 2 -
Safeguarding Our Future: Combating Climate Change, Managing Water
and Scientific Cooperation.
BLEICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/PO POVENMIRE, S/SECC SIERAWSKI, EAP/PPD, WHITE
HOUSE FOR CEQ, EPA FOR OIA GORKE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KPAO KGHG AS
SUBJECT: AMB. BLEICH TALKS WITH STUDENTS ON WATER, CLIMATE LINKS
REF: SECSTATE 123998
1. (U) Ambassador Bleich marked the first day of the Copenhagen
climate change conference (reftel) with a youth and environmental
outreach event at the National Museum of Australia. The museum is
hosting an exhibit, titled "Water H2O=Life," based on an exhibit by
the American Museum of National History. The Ambassador met with a
class of 24 students (ages 13-15 years) from a local Canberra public
high school who are studying climate change and accompanied them as
they viewed the exhibit, answering their questions on U.S. and
Australian climate change policies.
2. (U) At the conclusion of the student event, the Ambassador took
questions from the Australian media on the climate change talks in
Copenhagen and the recent defeat of PM Rudd's climate change
legislation here. The Ambassador noted the significant changes that
have occurred globally in support of an agreement, including
commitments by major developing countries to do more. Ambassador
Bleich characterized the recent Senate vote against national
cap-and-trade legislation in Australia as a "delay, not a defeat" in
government action on climate.
3. (U) The Ambassador is keen to engage young people and the public
early to reinforce the message that President Obama and the
Administration are committed to meeting the environmental challenges
facing the planet. This event was especially timely given the close
association in Australia between water and climate change and
increased public focus on climate change around the Copenhagen
conference. This event, the first of several public outreach events
where climate change will be a topic, supports MSP Goal 2 -
Safeguarding Our Future: Combating Climate Change, Managing Water
and Scientific Cooperation.
BLEICH