ACTION REQUEST: A MULTILATERAL CLIMATE CENTER IN INDONESIA

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000126 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP A/S CAMPELL, S/ECC, G, EAP/MTS, AND OES/EGC USAID FOR A/A MARGOT ELLIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID KGHG SENV PREL ID SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: A MULTILATERAL CLIMATE CENTER IN INDONESIA ¶1. (SBU) Action Request: Post requests Washington concurrence to discuss with foreign missions resident in Jakarta and the GOI the possibility of multilateral participation in the proposed Jakarta component of the Asian Regional Center for Climate Change initiative. The scheduled February 20-23 assessment visit could further explore how participation of other donor countries in the Jakarta ARC component could help multiply the impact that the center could bring to turning science into solutions for the whole range of mitigation and adaptation challenges. If GOI and other partners agree to the Center concept in following weeks, the President could announce this new initiative during his upcoming visit. ¶2. (SBU) On January 28, DCM Ted Osius discussed post-Copenhagen engagement with ambassadors and deputy ambassadors from resident missions of Australia, the EU, UK, the Netherlands and Norway, a group originally formed by Ambassador Hume in October 2009. These mission representatives noted that their countries had climate funds for Indonesia, but lacked functional and coordinated mechanisms through which to spend those funds effectively. Activities to date had been uncoordinated, isolated and disparate. The solution, they agreed, would be a key group of supporting nations to jointly approach the GOI to work out coordinated arrangements of support for climate mitigation and adaptation actions. ¶3. (SBU) This group is planning a follow on meeting with GOI to discuss coordination on climate change financing, on the ground projects and political engagement with the world. They reported that the GOI sees the UNEP meeting in Bali this February 22 as a way to repair the trust lost in Copenhagen and to advance COP 16 in Mexico. Post also notes that on January 25, Agung Laksono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Vice Chair of Indonesia's National Climate Change Council, and Climate Negotiator Rachmat Witoelar stated to the press on that Indonesia is working on establishing a climate center for Asia in Jakarta. It appears that the desires of the GOI, major foreign donor nations, and the ARC concept are compatible and could form a strong regional climate change deliverable for POTUS to announce. HUME