Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern's Meeting with

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000812

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

S/SECC FOR T. STERN
EUR/PGI FOR D. TESSLER
EUR/WE FOR S. HARTMANN
OES/EGC FOR K. LARSEN
NSC FOR E. FENDLEY
DOE FOR J. SKEER
EPA FOR A. PHILLIPS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG TRGY KSCA UN IT
SUBJECT: Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern's Meeting with
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

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1. (SBU) Summary: In a July 9 meeting with U.S. Special Envoy for
Climate Change Todd Stern on the margins of the G8 Summit, United
Nations Secretary General (UNSYG) Ban Ki Moon thanked the U.S., and
President Obama in particular, for leadership on the issue of
climate change. Ban asked that the President participate in Ban's
Climate Change meeting on September 22 (including his possibly
giving an impromptu address at one of the roundtables. Ban stressed
that while targets are being determined, what is lacking are
concrete details about what kind of financial and technological
assistance may be provided to developing countries. Special Envoy
Stern noted the importance of both developed and developing
countries making commitments, and assured Ban that proposals for
assistance were being worked out. He emphasized, however, the
importance of developing countries' engaging and making commitments.
Provision of financial assistance is important, but it must not be a
"you have to pay us to act" dynamic: developing countries,
including China and Brazil, have a strong interest in the outcome,
and are already taking steps independently, but must be willing to
make international commitments to match. End summary.


2. (SBU) In a meeting between U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change
Todd Stern and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on July 9, 2009, the
UNSYG thanked Special Envoy Stern for what the U.S. is doing on
climate change and for the leadership of President Obama in this
regard. Ban said he is following the Congressional process and
noted jokingly that he is even trying to help, meeting leaders such
as Nancy Pelosi and others. Ban noted that proposals for goals of
limiting temperature increase to two degrees Celsius, and cutting
global greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050 are welcome He
then asked Special Envoy Stern for his assessment of progress,
including at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF).



3. (SBU) Special Envoy Stern offered the President's regrets for
not being able to meet Ban while at the G8, noting that the
President appreciates Ban's activism on climate issues. He conveyed
that the MEF process is making good progress, in part by developing
relationships and trust. He added that he considers the MEF a
constructive framework for discussion. The December 2009 Copenhagen
meeting on climate change will nonetheless be challenging, he
averred. We need strong targets for developed countries and for
developing countries to make new commitments that are quantifiable
in the medium term and "beyond business as usual." Stern pointed
out that, "It's fine to talk about 2050," but countries need to
reach 2050 targets via steady progress in 2015, 2025, etc. For
this, developing countries need to take concrete actions; financing
packages are needed, along with verification mechanisms.

Targets are Clear
--------------


4. (SBU) With respect to developed countries, Stern noted that we
know the general targets and these are unlikely to change very much.
In his view, both the EU and the US have strong targets. The U.S.
proposals are now wrapped in the legislative process. When you add
up cap and trade and everything else, he said, he feels certain the
U.S. will have a strong package at the end of that process. Stern
said he disagreed with the notion, suggested by some in the EU, that
we need even more ambitious targets.

The UNSYG's September Meeting
--------------


5. (SBU) The UNSYG then discussed the September 22, 2009 High Level
meeting he will host on climate change for Heads of State and
Government, one day before the opening of the General Assembly. The
UN meeting will be of crucial importance, he said, and he is hoping
that President Obama will participate. In addition, the night
before the event, Ban said he is organizing an informal working
dinner with key players (fewer than 30 participants),which he also
hoped the President would attend. The meeting itself will consist of
4-5 roundtables, and Ban asked if President Obama might make a
symbolic appearance at one of these. Topics for these roundtables
are still being worked, and the UN's Bob Orr requested US
suggestions within the next two weeks. In response, Special Envoy
Stern said the President does intend to participate in the climate

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change conference, though the details were still to be worked out.


6. (SBU) Ban also requested the President's attendance at a
breakfast meeting he is organizing on September 23 for the Group of
Friends of Democratic Pakistan. According to Ban, PM Gordon Brown
will be there, as will Pakistan President Zardari. Ban remarked
that it will be a big week for President Obama, with the September
22 meeting on climate, the September 23 opening of the General
Assembly and then the G20 in Pittsburgh.


7. (SBU) Ban then briefly conveyed his appreciation for President
Obama's leadership on food security, which he noted is also related
to climate change. Since the food crisis began, Ban pointed out
that he has convened nine high level task force meetings, and that
he planned to include this issue in his remarks at the G8 on July

10.

Developing world must participate fully: new approach needed
-------------- --------------


8. (SBU) Special Envoy Stern noted the important role of the UN on
climate change, stressing that we cannot reach an agreement without
the participation of both developed and developing countries. There
is understandable anxiety about such an agreement in the developing
world, given concessions that may result in a cap on growth and
development. Both science and politics are involved here, and we
cannot reach an accord unless both sides participate. A new
agreement needs to do more than the Framework Agreement, more than
the Bali Action Plan. Stern pointed out that developing countries
often refer to those agreements to argue that a particular
concession "is not required."


9. (SBU) Stern noted that while the developed world recognizes its
historical responsibility for emissions, developing countries must
recognize that their emissions will surpass that of the developed
world in the decades ahead. We can't solve climate problems if we
don't move beyond the limited focus on the past, he concluded,
pointing out that it is in the interest of developing countries to
do as much as they can, as they are the ones most impacted by
climate change. It won't be possible for the developing world to
develop in the same way that the industrialized world did. Instead,
they need to develop in a low carbon way, with the technological and
financial support of the developed world.


10. (SBU) Stern also pointed to the paradox that many developing
countries, including China, are taking significant steps at home.
The gap between what they are doing domestically, and what they are
prepared to sign onto in an international agreement is large and we
need to bridge it.


Reverse the order from "do-provide" to "provide-do"
-------------- --------------


11. (SBU) The UNSYG responded that while he understands the goals,
the problem is how to bring the developing and developed worlds
together. Clarity on the scope of financing is important. In this
regard, he noted Gordon Brown's recent speech was good news. The
developing world needs assurances, not just numerical targets and
Ban thought Brown's speech sent a good signal regarding the need to
support the vision concretely. While he recognized the need to
convince India, China, Brazil and others, Ban pointed but that there
was no vision regarding the provision of tools, technology and
resources. Rather than demanding that countries "do", he said, it
would be helpful to encourage incentives as well as pressure,
including peer pressure.


12. (SBU) Ban noted that in his recent meeting with South African
President Zuma, the latter provided insight into discussions on
climate at the AU Summit. There is unity in Africa regarding the
need for concessions, unlike in China and India. Moreover, the
Africans are willing to apply pressure. Ban further noted the
difference in dynamics between calling for change at the G8 and
calling for change at the UN General Assembly, and the effect peer
pressure could have at the latter. Even in Copenhagen, last minute
peer pressure might produce results, he opined. Returning to the UN

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Summit in September, he noted that this must be used as a "political
deadline."

Financing: Won't be ATM
--------------


13. (SBU) Envoy Stern said he agreed financing was an important
element and added that Prime Minister Brown's proposal of providing
$100 billion by 2020 was significant and in the realm of the
reasonable and plausible. What is important to note, however, is
that funding won't just be handed out without conditions, "as from
an ATM." Money will go to countries with plans for projects that
seem workable and with accountability over how funds are spent, he
noted, while observing that these kinds of conditions tend to be
resisted by recipient states, over concern about red tape and fear
that promises will not be met. Moreover, Stern stressed that a
fundamentally different dynamic is needed. It should not be one of
"you have to pay us to act."


14. (SBU) The UNSYG concluded by agreeing with the need for clarity
and good governance regarding financing and technical assistance.
Both sides agreed that the road ahead would be difficult, but that
it was important to work hard to reach good outcomes, both at the UN
event and in Copenhagen.
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