UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000278

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV DA
SUBJECT: DENMARK STILL AFTER TOP IRENA JOB

REF: State 59969


1. (SBU) REO conveyed reftel points on possible U.S. membership of
the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to Danish
officials in the Foreign and Climate ministries on June 17. Danish
officials warmly welcomed U.S. interest in joining IRENA.


2. (SBU) Mads Emil Sterk, Head of Section in the Foreign Ministry's
Office of Environment, Energy and Climate told us that Denmark has
withdrawn its bid to host the IRENA HQ, and supports Bonn instead.
Sterk noted that Denmark was aware the UAE bid was attracting
support, and acknowledged U.S. arguments in favor. Denmark will
support the German bid in recognition of German leadership in
support of the founding of IRENA. Asked if Bonn had unified EU
support, Sterk said "not yet."


3. (SBU) Sterk said Denmark remained keen on the top IRENA job and
has nominated Hans Jorgen Koch, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the
Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy, for the IRENA Director
General position. Sterk pledged to share Koch's CV and
qualifications with us shortly (we will forward to action offices in
Washington upon receipt). Sterk said Koch had played prominent
roles in international renewable energy cooperatiQ efforts,
including chairing the IRENA founding conference in Bonn. According
to Sterk, Koch is competing with candidates from Greece, France,
Spain and possibly Nigeria (the latter candidacy may be disputed on
procedural grounds). In addition to deciding the DG position, an
initial work program draQed by committee will also be discussed at
the June 29-30 meeting in Egypt, he said.


4. (SBU) Denmark largely agrees with the U.S. vision of the IRENA
mission, including the need to avoid duplication (he mentioned the
IEA), align IRENA with energy promotion and technology diffusion
efforts, and to build capacity in developing countries through the
exchange of best practices and policy options. The latter might
feature in discussions at the Egypt meeting on regional centers for
IRENA in the developing world, Sterk said. The centers would focus
on the particular challenges in each region in the development and
deployment of renewable energy sources.


5. (SBU) Comment: Koch is well and favorably known to the Embassy,
and spoke at the Washington International Renewable Energy
Conference in March 2008. Denmark is a leader in renewable energy
development and deployment, with special expertise in wind power.
Denmark is also a leader in global climate negotiations in the
run-up to COP-15, which it will host.

MCCULLEY