Science, Environment, and Diplomacy at the World Ocean

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000898 SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS AND OES COMMERCE FOR NOAA NSC FOR JBADER, EPHU, HVARMUS AND CEQ USAID FOR A/AID FULGHUM, AA/EGAT, AA/ANE, AA/LPA, RDMA/BANGKOK AND ANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KGHG EAID AORC EFIS PREL ID SUBJECT: Science, Environment, and Diplomacy at the World Ocean Conference ¶1. Summary: U.S. participation in the World Ocean Conference, including Secretary Clinton's taped address, demonstrated how the U.S. can play a constructive role in understanding the link between oceans and climate change. Indonesia has a growing international role on environmental issues, and the U.S. worked together well with it to guarantee the conference's success. The U.S. delegation included non-governmental actors and earned significant international media coverage for the conference and the role the United States played. We can build on this smart power success by concluding a bilateral Science and Technology Agreement before President Obama's possible November visit; sending NOAA's Okeanos Explorer research vessel in 2010; and developing a global science corps. End Summary. ¶2. The U.S. delegation, headed by Department of Commerce Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Mary Glackin, her team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),and professionals from USAID and the Bureau for Oceans, Environment and Science (OES),was the largest at the conference. It played a central role in negotiating a conference declaration highlighting oceans as a central element of the climate change debate. Local press commented on the delegation's positive role in forming consensus on key issues. Respect for Indonesia's Growing Role -------------- ¶3. As host of the December 2007 UN Climate Change talks, founder of the Coral Triangle Initiative and convener of the first World Ocean Conference, Indonesia is playing a bigger part internationally on environmental issues. D/US Glackin's participation and the Secretary's recorded remarks showed U.S. respect for Indonesia's increasingly active role on climate change and marine conservation. The delegation's effectiveness was enhanced by the close partnership in Indonesia between State and NOAA, the nation's lead ocean and atmosphere agency. Google, Scripps, Smithsonian - Non-traditional U.S. Partners -------------- -------------- ¶4. The official delegation was strengthened by non-governmental actors. Two eminent scientists participated: the Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Smithsonian Institution Marine Science Chair. The Chief Technology Advocate from Google also joined the U.S. delegation. Google may have new opportunities to partner with Indonesia. Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Freddy Numberi seeks Google's help to map Indonesia's 17,000 islands. Google needs Indonesia's help to improve its imagery of Indonesia in Google Earth (many parts of the country are obscured in clouds). Public Diplomacy Outreach -------------- ¶5. Key international media outlets, including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Deutche Welle, AP, AFP and the Financial Times, all carried stories on the U.S. role in the conference. Local media also ran daily stories about U.S. participation. On the conference margins, delegation members interacted with high school and university students through environmental movie screenings, national photo competitions, and university talks by leading U.S. scientists. What's Next? -------------- ¶6. The combination of science, environment, and diplomacy contributed to the success of the World Ocean Conference and strengthened our partnership with Indonesia on science and technology issues. Embassy Jakarta will pursue three initiatives to further build this partnership. We want to conclude a bilateral Science and Technology Agreement before a possible November visit by President Obama to provide a framework for cooperation in additional fields. We will also work with NOAA to bring its premier ocean research vessel Okeanos Explorer to Indonesia in 2010 to deepen ties on maritime research. And we will explore the possibility of becoming a pilot country for a new global science corps. HUME