Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO575
2009-06-19 20:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL MEACHAM - CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, AND U.S.

Tags:  ENVR ETRD PGOV PREL OVIP CI 
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 192043Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5085
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 4036
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RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0968
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000575 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR H, WHA/BSC, OES, INR/IAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENVR ETRD PGOV PREL OVIP CI
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MEACHAM - CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, AND U.S.
COOPERATION IN CHILE

REF: 08 SANTIAGO 1096

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000575

SIPDIS

STATE FOR H, WHA/BSC, OES, INR/IAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENVR ETRD PGOV PREL OVIP CI
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MEACHAM - CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, AND U.S.
COOPERATION IN CHILE

REF: 08 SANTIAGO 1096


1. SUMMARY: Senior Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Member
Carl Meacham on May 27-June 3 met with Chilean officials, NGOs, as
well as academics to review the effects of climate change. He also
conducted a site visit to the El Maule region, which has been
impacted by climate change. All the consulted experts expressed
concerns about the trend of declining rainfall, climate
characteristics moving southward, and the impact of reduced
water-availability. Regarding potential areas for U.S.-Chile
cooperation, several experts recommended that the two countries
explore exchanging information on water market issues, effective use
of sub-soil ground water, promoting water storage, water
bench-marking measures, national studies on the effects of climate
change, and more efficient irrigation methods. END SUMMARY.

A Variety of Interlocutors
--------------


2. During a packed program (May 27-June 3),Senior Foreign
Relations Committee Professional Staff Member Carl Meacham discussed
growing concerns about climate change in Chile and potential areas
of U.S.-Chile cooperation. Meacham met with representatives from
the Foreign Ministry, National Council for the Environment (CONAMA),
General Directorate for Water (DGA),Ministry of Agriculture, the
Agriculture Protection and Development Service (SAG),National
Forestry Corporation (CONAF),NGO Chile Sustentable, the UN Economic
Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC),Universidad
de Chile, and the Ministry of Agriculture's Research Institute
(INIA). In the visit to El Maule, Meacham's schedule included
meetings with the El Maule Regional Council, the Maule River
Vigilance Committee, the Catholic University of El Maule, as well as
the regional offices of SAG, CONAMA, and INIA.


3. Meacham also connected with a variety of opinion-makers. The
Ambassador hosted a lunch with political pundits. Meacham gave an
exclusive interview to the El Mercurio newspaper. He also
participated in a discussion at Instituto Libertad y Desarrollo (a
local think-tank) about Chile's upcoming elections.

Climate Change Underway
--------------


4. Chilean authorities told Meacham that climate change is already

affecting the country, which is experiencing varying effects in
different regions of the country. The head of the General
Directorate of Water (DGA),Rodrigo Weisner, noted there is
decreased rainfall in areas such as Santiago, which previously
received considerably more rain. Temuco in the southern 9th region
experienced record high temperatures, notably 35 degrees centigrade
during one entire summer month when the average high is only 24
degrees. All agreed that the climate north of Santiago is getting
drier and less rainfall is falling south of the capital.


5. CONAF Deputy Executive Director, Luis Duchens, noted that
forestry authorities are experiencing droughts not seen in the past
50 years. During the past year, for example, the number of forest
fires had increased notably. The Ministry of Agriculture advisor on
climate change, Andres Laroze, indicated that Vina del Mar's climate
is becoming more like that of northern La Serena (a 5-hour car drive
from Santiago and closer to the Atacama desert zone),with little or
no rain. Several experts noted that rainfall has increasingly come
from sudden downpours that turn into runoff, which feeds into the
ocean instead of replenishing the sub-soil water supply as it has
traditionally done.


6. INIA's Sergio Gonzalez expressed concern, as did others, about
the impact of climate change on small farmers, many of whom grow
wheat and corn. The operating cost to small farmers is likely to
increase because of their steady demand for water. He noted farmers
will need to become more efficient, producing the same amounts of
product using less water. He noted that the mountain snow lines are
receding, which affect water supplies after a winter season.

GOC Response to Reduce Gashouse Emissions
--------------


7. Sara Larrain of Chile Sustentable (an NGO) served on the team
that prepared the GOC's December 2008 Action Plan on Climate Change
(reftel). She spoke at length about the government's plans to
diversify its energy matrix, which she thought could have been more

ambitious. Larrain noted that the GOC relies heavily on fossil
fuels, particularly since its failed attempt to diversify the
country's energy sources with Argentine natural gas. The GOC
projects that by 2010 non-conventional renewable energy will
represent 5% of the country's total energy production. By 2024 that
figure rises to 10%, a figure Larrain thought should be doubled.


8. Larrain emphasized that Chile could not continue on its current
path generating disproportionate greenhouse gas emissions, producing
four times the world average and twice the average in Latin America.
She indicated that, unlike other countries, Chile has many natural
resources to develop renewable energy. She highlighted Chile's
steady supply of sunlight in the Atacama Desert, heavy winds along
the coast, and several locations with geothermal activity, which
after an initial capital investment could be economically feasible.



9. The experts consulted agreed that Chile needs to diversify its
energy sources and diminish its use of highly-contaminating diesel
and coal. There is increased focus on renewable energy, but its
development will take many years, several commented.

Field Trip to El Maule
--------------


10. Meacham traveled to Talca -- the capital of the El Maule (7th)
region -- and its environs June 1-2 to see first-hand the impacts of
climate change on one of Chile's top zones of agricultural
production. El Maule is well-known for its fruits and wines, as
well as for the local sense of humor (e.g., a famous local phrase
proclaims Talca's place among famous cities of the world: "Talca,
Paris, and London!"). During a meeting with El Maule's Regional
Council and the Deputy Regional Governor, Meacham was told the area
was an excellent location in which to survey the effects of climate
change. This was because of recent changes in the water supply and
weather conditions that were having a significant impact on the
local economy.


11. The Director of the Maule River Vigilance Committee (Junta de
Vigilancia del Rio Maule),Manuel Gonzalez, echoed the commentary of
INIA's Sergio Gonzalez (para 7). He said that while measured
rainfall had recently been at normal levels, there was much less
snow in the Andes (the river's chief water source). This was
contributing to a reduction in the region's water supplies that
could seriously impact the entire region. The organization was
trying to change water usage habits in El Maule and develop a system
of more efficient irrigation (e.g., building reservoirs).


12. At the Catholic University of El Maule, the Director of the
School of Forestry, Carmen Bravo, noted climate change was impacting
local forests as water supplies diminished, carbon exposure
increased, and micro-climate changes produced shifts in insect
populations. A representative from the School of Agriculture
reported that local apples and cherries (a specialty of the El Maule
region) were ripening faster in terms of color as result of climate
change, but not in terms of taste or smell. All the Chilean
participants in the meeting lamented the lack of any national
studies on climate change. They reported that very little research
existed comparing the effects of climate change in previous years
and forecasting possible changes in Chile.


13. During the meetings with the regional offices of SAG, CONAMA,
and INIA, officials reiterated the importance of tackling water
issues in El Maule. SAG representatives were particularly vocal
about the need to change irrigation practices so that local farmers
could adapt to shifting climate conditions. During a visit to the
rural town of Empedrado, Meacham attended a meeting in which local
government officials were attempting to get local farmers to
participate in a local reservoir plan. CONAMA noted El Maule had a
poor understanding of its water usage as well as subterranean
supplies. Local INIA representatives suggested a national
organization in Chile dedicated to water issues.

Potential U.S.-Chile Cooperation
--------------


14. The Executive Director of CONAMA, Alvaro Sapag, noted that
Chile does a good job providing potable water to its residents,
comparable to the numbers one could find
in OECD countries. He said Chile would be a good candidate to share
its experience with other countries that have not successfully

created a clean water supply and efficient distribution system.


15. Experts also highlighted Chile's need to better manage
increasingly scarce water resources. The representatives from ECLAC
expressed concerns about increasing political and social debate
surrounding water usage and allocation, including between competing
exports sectors such as the mining industry and irrigated
agriculture.


16. Meacham received many suggestions for future U.S.-Chile
cooperation. Most focused on water issues, which are impacted by
climate change. Recommendations included:

-- Sharing information and promoting cooperation on water
monitoring, including river levels, subterranean supplies, and water
quality, as well as data recording technology.

-- Sharing information and promoting cooperation on water market
transactions and ways to lower these costs (e.g., review efforts in
New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado).

-- Cooperating on promoting new techniques to measure ground water
and utilize this water efficiently in irrigation.

--Promoting water storage in affected regions (such as a system of
reservoirs in El Maule to help counteract the impact of climate
change).

--Cooperating in the research and creation of studies comparing and
forecasting the effects of climate change in Chile's regions.

--Teacher and student exchanges between universities in Chile and
the U.S. related to the study of climate change and its impacts
(especially on agriculture and forestry).


17. This cable has been cleared by Carl Meacham.
SIMONS