AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH DANISH CLIMATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000486

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2019
TAGS: PREL KGHG SENV UN DA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH DANISH CLIMATE
MINISTER HEDEGAARD

REF: COPENHAGEN 173

Classified By: Ambassador Susan Rice for reasons: 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. Danish Climate Minister Hedegaard sought the
Ambassador's views on the likelihood of Congressional
adoption of climate change legislation by December, and
encouraged USG engagement with China. She also hoped that
U.S. leadership would draw out clearer positions from Japan
and Canada. Ambassador Rice encouraged Hedegaard to
emphasize the need for a truly global response and shared
responsibility in addressing climate change. They exchanged
views on the utility of a September 22 high-level climate
event being convened by the Secretary-General, who briefed a
select group of PermReps in a breakfast meeting that day
attended by Rice and Hedegaard. End summary.


2. (U) Denmark Minister for Climate Change and Energy Connie
Hedegaard (reftel) paid a call on Ambassador Rice May 6 to
seek views on domestic U.S. actions on climate change and
brainstorm on how Denmark and the UN in New York could most
usefully contribute to a successful outcome at the December
Conference of Parties ministerial in Copenhagen. Danish
PermRep Carsten Staur accompanied the Minister.

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U.S. Leadership Key to Bring Others On Board
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3. (SBU) Hedegaard praised the vigor of the Obama
Administration in addressing climate change and complimented
the Ambassador on her active participation in a meeting that
morning at the UK Mission featuring an address by and
interactive discussion with Secretary-General (SYG) Ban and
the UK-led "Friends on Climate Change" group (see para 6
below). The Minister asked about the state of Congressional
deliberations on climate legislation and whether the
Administration had a sequence of legislative priorities that
could impact the timeline. Ambassador Rice underscored the
Administration's commitment to climate legislation and
assured that multiple legislative priorities could be engaged
simultaneously; however, Congress substantially controls its
own agenda.


4. (C) The Minister said the international community is
looking to the U.S. for leadership, but noted that other
developed countries must also show greater ambition, pointing
specifically to Canada and Japan. Ambassador Rice agreed
that all states need to engage on climate change to their
fullest possible extent, and not treat negotiations like a
game of poker. The U.S., she noted, is being completely
transparent in its negotiating position given the need to hew
closely to what Congress does. But for scientific and
political reasons, it remains imperative that key developing
states like China and India also to commit to actions.
Hedegaard agreed, though she said she treats India and China
differently considering how far India lags behind China in
terms of poverty rates and access to electricity. The
Minister said she hopes that U.S.-China economic and climate
dialogue will help China shorten the timetable for achieving
its peak emissions. She sees lots of "low-hanging fruit" in
terms of improving energy efficiency in China, but also
thinks China is making more progress than many realize in
building a greener future economy; the U.S. needs to join
that competition for the jobs of tomorrow.

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Denmark, UN Role?
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5. (C) Asked what Denmark, as Conference of Parties host, and
the UN could helpfully do to promote a successful outcome in
Copenhagen, Ambassador Rice urged the Minister to reinforce
the universality of the climate challenge and get all parties
to lay their cards on the table rather than simply wait for
Congressional action. The Danes should also consider
contingencies in the event Congress does not adopt
legislation before December, though Hedegaard said she did
not want to lower expectations or pressure on states to
achieve agreement in Copenhagen. Hedegaard also thought the
SYG's high-level climate change event on September 22 could
be an ideal way to spur heads of state to break deadlocks in
the UNFCCC negotiations. Ambassador Rice expressed
skepticism that the "usual format" for General Assembly
events was conducive to meaningful progress, but Ambassador
Staur replied that the SYG would arrange smaller working
groups somehow. Ambassador Rice asked if the UN could do
more to promote the adaptation/development nexus, and the

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Minister said the UNFCCC negotiations were making promising
progress in that area. Ambassador Rice encouraged Hedegaard
to further explore her areas of interest with U.S. climate
special envoy Todd Stern.

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SYG Addresses Friends on Climate Change
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6. (SBU) In a breakfast meeting May 6, Ambassador Rice and a
few other PermReps were invited to join the "Friends on
Climate Change" group of ambassadors at the UK Mission for an
address and discussion with SYG Ban. Ban offered his
optimistic perspective on trends in various countries to work
toward a successful outcome in Copenhagen, and Ambassador
Rice underscored U.S. commitment and the need for active
involvement by all states.
Rice