PERU PROPOSING 47 PERCENT REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND

UNCLAS LIMA 001934 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR WHA/EPSC - FRANCES COLON ALSO FOR OES/EGC - DREW NELSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG ETRD TSPL KGHG PE SUBJECT: PERU PROPOSING 47 PERCENT REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND REQUESTS ASSISTANCE IN PRESERVING AMAZON REF: A.) WHA/EPSC COLON 11/27 EMAIL; B.) 2009 LIMA 537 ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador delivered reftel A points to Minister of Environment Antonio BRACK Egg, who will lead the Peru delegation to Copenhagen (COP 15). Brack already seemed to be familiar with the USG position, and was supportive. ¶2. (SBU) Brack informed the Ambassador that Peru will propose reducing its emissions by 47 percent. Peru would accomplish this by placing a moratorium on deforestation in the Amazon (which takes up over half of Peru and is likely the most pristine remaining part of the Amazon). ¶3. (SBU) The Minister affirmed that Peru is "working hard" to preserve forests, noting advances Peru has made to ready some portions of the forest for eligibility under the U.N. Program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (or REDD). He calculated that if Peru could reduce deforestation from 550,000 hectares per year (the current deforestation rate) to zero hectares, the proposed 47 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions would result. ¶4. (SBU) Brack asked for assistance in arranging a high level meeting with USG officials in Copenhagen. He will be available from December 16 through the morning of December 19. ¶5. (SBU) COMMMENT: Such a meeting would serve U.S. interests, given that much of the action post-Copenhagen in South America will be concentrated on rainforest conservation/mitigation. As we explained reftel B, Peru represents a number of opportunities to support the President's agenda. We look forward to following up after Copenhagen. ¶6. (SBU) BIO NOTE: Minister Brack is Peru's first environment minister, a ministry created as a direct result of the negotiations on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, which entered into force February 1, 2009 and includes far-reaching environmental commitments new to the trade promotion agenda. Moreover, Brack is widely regarded as Peru's most prominent environmentalist figure. MCKINLEY