EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 018520 SIPDIS FOR ALL OFFICERS FSNS AND AIDOFFS COVERING ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH ISSUES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EAGR EAID EFIS ENRG KGCC KSCA TBIO TPHY TSPL XB XC, XE, XU, XV, ZN, ID SUBJECT: EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH CONFERENCE APRIL 15-17, 2009 IN JAKARTA ¶1. This is an action cable (please see para 10.) ¶2. Summary: The Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science (OES),in cooperation with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP),Embassy Jakarta, and the Regional Environmental Offices (REO) in Bangkok and Suva, announces its biennial conference on Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) issues in the EAP region. The training will be held on April 15-17, 2009 in Jakarta. This event is open to all USG officers - Environment, Science, Technology, and Health officers, Science Counselors, Economic/Political and USAID officers, local hire specialists, and Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) from U.S. Embassies, from State and other USG agencies. Participants are expected to pay for their own travel and per diem through Post funds. Participants are requested to respond via email to Embassy Jakarta and cc REOs in Bangkok and Suva and the OES/PCI action officer (POCs listed in para 10) by March 16, 2009 to register for attendance. End summary. ¶3. OES, EAP, the REOs ("Hubs") based in Bangkok and Suva, and Embassy Jakarta invite a broad range of participants from U.S. Embassies, USAID Missions and other USG agencies, including ESTH officers, Public Diplomacy and Economic/Political officers and FSNs, to attend the 2009 EAP ESTH Conference on April 15-17 in Jakarta. OES Acting Assistant Secretary Reno L. Harnish, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume, a distinguished array of State Department and other interagency subject matter experts and NGO representatives will participate. ¶4. Attendees will develop an in-depth understanding of the new Administration's ESTH priorities in the region, share experiences, and participate in discussions with speakers. Speakers will address region-specific priorities regarding topics such as integrating climate and development, forest conservation, clean energy, science and technology, multipollutant air quality strategies, biodiversity and natural resource management including the Coral Triangle and Heart of Borneo Initiatives, and transboundary cooperation on shared water resources. ¶5. These sessions will familiarize participants with ESTH tradecraft - the initiatives, partnerships, institutions, and outreach tools available to advance our ESTH goals - and provide an opportunity for officers to exchange ideas on advancing regional cooperation. The principal goal is to better integrate USG ESTH policy objectives into the bilateral and regional political and economic context by enhancing substantive and policy knowledge. We will highlight opportunities in the Foreign Assistance and Mission Strategic Plan processes to connect ESTH issues to priorities at post. ¶6. This conference is intended to complement, not duplicate, the annual Foreign Service Institute ESTH Tradecraft course by providing updates on policy positions, presenting a region-specific focus and elaborating on issues of interest to attendees. In order to fulfill this last goal, we will circulate a notional agenda to participants via email for comment and participants are encouraged to provide input that will shape the course. This training/conference is also intended for the officer who handles ESTH issues on a part-time basis and may or may not have received formal ESTH training. ¶7. The President and Secretary have placed an extremely high priority on a new approach to international engagement in the EAP region and climate change - as demonstrated by Secretary Clinton's first trip abroad, to Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and China, in February 2009. The new Administration has also emphasized a new role for science in federal policy. This year's conference will focus on helping officers in the field integrate the new Administration's policies in these and other OES issues. ¶8. The opportunity to engage with colleagues throughout the region and from Washington is intended to strengthen the capacity of officers in the field to contribute to the development and implementation of the Administration,s policies in their respective geographical areas. ESTH issues are increasingly recognized as inextricably linked with economic and social development. Climate change in STATE 00018520 002 OF 002 SUBJECT: EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH CONFERENCE APRIL 15-17, 2009 particular is having a strong impact on development and a broad range of public policy concerns, at the domestic and international levels. As a result, USG officials are increasingly called upon to engage in relatively technical aspects related to energy, air, water, and other sustainable development concerns. Many countries in East Asia have placed a high priority upon science and technology development and deployment and continue to do so in order to foster innovation and sustainable economic growth. ¶9. Embassy Jakarta will arrange meeting space to host the conference and arrange lodging for all participants. Hotel costs, including any additional conference fees, are expected to be within the USG lodging per diem. Participants should plan to arrive in Jakarta on or by the evening of April 14. Posts are expected to pay their own expenses for travel and per diem. ¶10. Confirmation of participation, with credit card information for hotel reservations, is requested by March 16, ¶2009. Please contact Midori Oliver (OliverM2@state.gov) and Joan Mahoney (mahoneyjm@state.gov) at Embassy Jakarta to confirm participation, and cc OES/PCI - Erwin D. Rose (RoseED@state.gov, phone 202-647-1410),REO Bankgok - Howell ¶H. Howard (HowardHH@state.gov, phone 66-2-205-4712),REO Suva - Joseph P. Murphy (MurphyJP@state.gov, phone 679-331-4466). Indonesia requires visas for all USG officials entering the country. Washington-based USG officials should obtain a visa request letter from Debra Benavidez (BenavidezDA@state.gov, phone 202-647-4393) in EAP. FSNs planning to attend should check Indonesia's visa requirements for their country. Officers are reminded to seek country clearance from Embassy Jakarta. Embassy Jakarta will provide threat assessments and detailed logistical information in the responses to country clearance request cables. ¶11. Post offers the use of its American Express Travel Office for visitors who choose to remain in Indonesia after the conference. Visitors may wish to observe Post's participation in an Earth Day activity in Jakarta on the morning of April 18; and/or visit the Center for International Forestry Research, approximately 1-1/2 hours outside of Jakarta. Recommended excursions also include an orangutan reserve in Kalimantan, staying in an eco-lodge or in a live-aboard boat for 3-4 days; for advanced divers, a trip to Manado; and for less advanced divers or those with tighter travel schedules, a trip to Pulau Putri, part of the Thousand Islands located off of the Jakarta coast. Please send all requests for travel information to Widya Tamara at amexjk@state.gov. Please note: embassy staff will not support any of this post-conference travel, and individuals are expected to make their own arrangements. CLINTON