USAID PARTICIPATION IN WORLD OCEANS CONFERENCE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000414 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR EAP/MTS AND OES COMMERCE FOR NOAA USAID FOR A/AID FULGHUM, AA/EGAT, AA/ANE, AA/LPA, RDMA/BANGKOK AND ANE NSC FOR HAROLD VARMUS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: SENV TBIO EAID ECON PREL ID SUBJECT: USAID PARTICIPATION IN WORLD OCEANS CONFERENCE REF: JAKARTA 266 ¶1. This is an action message. See paragraph 6. ¶2. Summary: The May 11-15 World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, Indonesia will be a key climate chage milestone on the way to Copenhagen. In addition to climate change, the Conference will address sustainable economic growth and biodiversity conservation, and advance our regional and bilateral partnerships in Southeast Asia. USAID, as the largest investor of resources to support marine resource management in this region, should send its highest level representative possible and an appropriate delegation to support this conference. ¶3. This first World Ocean Conference will be the most significant international event held thus far to focus on how oceans influence and are influenced by climate change. It will culminate in the signing of the Manado Ocean Declaration. This Declaration will highlight the role of the ocean in regulating climate change and the importance of protecting the ocean to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The conference and declaration will influence the development of global oceans policy and focus attention on ocean-climate change linkages in the lead-up to Copenhagen. Marine resources are also crucial for the economy, society, and biodiversity priorities of the region. The right American delegation can advance our views in all these subjects, and USAID leadership is key. ¶4. Environment, science and technology are key pillars of the USG-GOI and regional ASEAN relationships. Strong USG support of the WOC would advance the Coral Triangle Initiative, support sustainable marine resource management in this critical area, advance USG climate objectives, and demonstrate progress under our regional and bilateral partnerships. Indonesians are expecting 2,500 participants from over 100 countries, including government officials, scientists, NGO representatives and journalists. The six Coral Triangle Initiative heads of state are planning to come, as well as Prime Minister Rudd from Australia. The U.S., a key CTI partner, needs to be there as well. ¶5. Ambassador Hume has requested a senior USG envoy to coordinate interagency efforts, engage quickly in the region with GOI and other governments, and to shape environmental, scientific and climate change messages (see reftel). USAID, which invests more heavily than any other USG agency in marine resource management, has a direct interest in the Conference's outcome and needs to push for this high-level Washington envoy. USAID will have a booth at the WOC, currently being planned by its RDMA mission in Bangkok. ¶6. Action: Ambassador Hume requests USAID to send the strongest possible team to the WOC and to prepare for this important event. HUME