Media Reaction - President's UN climate speech

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000603 SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR S/SECC, INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB BRUSSELS FOR REGIONAL MEDIA HUB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG OPRC KMDR KPAO PINR SW XA SUBJECT: Media Reaction - President's UN climate speech ¶I. On September 23, all major Swedish media covered the climate speeches at the United Nations in New York. The independent Stockholm morning daily "Dagens Nyheter" opined on the speech under the headline 'The vagueness of the United States and China overshadows the willingness by others': "Obama spoke in general terms about everyone's responsibilities and the United States' investment in renewable energy. But he had no proposals whatsoever of how to move the negotiations forward or any commitments that could appease the developing countries. Hu was unexpectedly vague about how China will go about limiting their greenhouse gas emissions. The vagueness risks creating a growing disappointment since the Chinese over the last few days had raised expectations that they were going to make far-reaching commitments to limit their emissions." II. The conservative daily Svenska Dagbladet, which on September 22 published the S/SECC op-ed on the U.S. position under Ambassador Barzun's name, reported that: "New climate targets from Japan, repeated promises from the EU to increase aid to poor countries, a new commitment from China - but mainly pretty phrases from the United States of America's Barack Obama.... "On the fact that both Presidents of the United States and China participated, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, as EU President, noted that 'It is historic,' but remained critical of what they had actually said. Reinfeldt stated that 'China does a lot right and a lot wrong at the same time', while he also stated that considerable changes had occurred in the United States with the new Administration, but that concrete goals are needed." III. Business daily "Dagens Industri" reported from New York under the headline 'Reinfeldt demands clear environment targets': "We must not accept that, if there is a delay in the American Senate, the whole Copenhagen Conference collapses,' said Reinfeldt. He also indicated a certain disappointment over China. While President Hu Jintau promised a reduction of emissions with 'a considerable margin', it is according to Reinfeldt only a marginal adjustment to before." IV. Liberal tabloid Expressen described the meeting as 'Reinfeldt disappointed with Obama': "I am probably the most concrete of all the speakers as far as numbers are concerned. It felt good on behalf of EU to be able to deliver such information,' said Reinfeldt and continued: "Obama admits that the United States has a lot of catching up to do, but mentioned no new concrete proposals. What we miss are clearly formulated targets'.... "He is locked in the American division of power system. We know there are problems for him to get it through the Senate, but the important issue is to show leadership that demonstrates that he has ambitions,' said Reinfeldt.... "The EU, Japan and Australia have come very far and that will create pressure on the United States and China. Hopefully Obama will say something more at the G20, although we have not yet received any indications of this so far." ¶V. The social democratic tabloid Aftonbladet reported that Prime Minister Reinfeldt said: "I cannot say that I am disappointed in Obama, it is the way the political system works in the United States. One person cannot on his own get this through. What I wish is for Obama to be more willing to take on a global leader role on these issues. That is what the world needs." BARZUN