CHILE: SUPPORTIVE OF POLITICAL OUTCOME AT COP-15 IF IT SETS

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001180 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/SECC STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC AND EEB/ESC/IEC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ENRG SENV PGOV KGHG UN CI SUBJECT: CHILE: SUPPORTIVE OF POLITICAL OUTCOME AT COP-15 IF IT SETS THE TONE FOR CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Environment Minister Uriarte told the Ambassador that Chile expects the outcome of the COP-15 in Copenhagen to be a political agreement, but that she hopes it will have some substance. As an emerging economy, Chile expects to be a bridge between the developed and developing countries. Noting the important role for developing countries in climate change mitigation, she suggested Chile will pursue mitigation measures using its own resources, in contrast to other countries that will make commitments contingent on financing from developed countries. Uriarte signaled that Chile may be prepared to outline voluntary commitments if the negotiating climate is right. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Minister of the Environment Ana Lya Uriarte on December 4. The Minister was accompanied by Raul Campusano, Head of International Affairs at the National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) and, also from CONAMA, Juan Francisco Bascunan and Constance Nalegach. ESTHoff accompanied the Ambassador. In addition, on December 1, ESTHoff met with Waldemar Coutts, Deputy Director of Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of Environment. Political Outcome Should Still Have Substance -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Uriarte outlined Chile's expectation that the outcome of Copenhagen would be a politically binding agreement and, while expressing some disappointment there would not be legally binding outcome at the COP-15, seemed optimistic about a future agreement. (Coutts echoed this view in his meeting with ESTHoff.) Uriarte said this was the most practical approach given the current global political situation "at this historic moment" and repeated several times that to be an effective agreement it would need to follow the Bali roadmap priorities of measurement, reporting, and verification of progress on emissions reductions. She was not concerned that international verification would become a sticking point, although she noted India's reservations on the issue. Pending OECD Membership is Shaping Chile's Bridging Role -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Uriarte described Chile's probable December accession to the OECD as an opportunity to exchange best practices and a chance to bring an emerging economy vision to the OECD. Even if the developed countries significantly reduce emissions, Uriate said there is still a powerful role for developing countries in climate change mitigation. She conveyed the sense of responsibility Chile feels to develop mitigation measures it could meet using its own resources. She differentiated this from other countries, i.e., Brazil, which will make commitments contingent only on financing from developed countries. ¶5. (SBU) Coutts asserted that Chile's imminent accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has increased the pressure for it to consider making commitments, given that many of its trading partners (particularly EU countries) are looking at the carbon footprint of products entering their markets. He cited the cases of Mexico and South Korea, non-Annex I countries that joined the OECD without making binding commitments to reduce emissions which, nevertheless, have gradually developed "ambitious, but voluntary" climate change mitigation goals. Chile expects to join Mexico and Korea, both formerly part of the G-77, in the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG). President Bachelet May Attend Copenhagen -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) When asked if President Bachelet would go to Copenhagen, Uriarte evaded a direct reply and said that after Chile's presidential election on December 13, there is a constitutional requirement for the president to request the Senate's permission to travel outside the country, but it is not in session. Coutts confided to ESTHoff that he believes that Bachelet will attend if she "has a message to deliver." ¶7. (SBU) In the context of speculation about Bachelet's participation, Coutts said that Chile's National Energy Commission has political guidance to develop targets for voluntary emissions reductions. Uriarte emphasized that Chile is seeking targets that it can attain with domestic resources. The minister and Coutts both described Chile's approach to voluntary mitigation measures as a type of "pledge and review," i.e., Chile will set goals and periodically reassess both its progress and the possibility of making further commitments, subject to technical assistance and financing. Chilean Delegation -------------- ¶8. (SBU) According to Coutts, there will be over 40 members of the Chilean delegation to Copenhagen, including four ministers: Minister of Environment Uriarte as the head of delegation, Minister of Agriculture Marigen Hornkhol, Minister of Mining Santiago Gonzalez, and Minister of Energy Marcelo Tokman. The executive director of Chile's environmental commission, Alvaro Sapag will also attend as head of the technical delegation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be represented by Coutts and Christian Maquieira (Chile's ambassador to Paraquay and its representative in previous climate change negotiations). The working level members of the delegation will be there from the start of discussions, but the ministers will not travel until after Chile's December 13 presidential elections; Uriarte plans to be in Copenhagen on December 14. ¶9. (SBU) Coutts revealed former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, one of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoys on Climate Change will also attend, but not as part of the official Chilean delegation. Coutts expressed relief that no non-governmental organizations have asked to join the delegation, but there will be at least four representatives of the private sector. He inquired about private sector and NGO participation in the USG delegation. SIMONS