NEPAL NON-COMMITAL ON COPEHAGEN ACCORD

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000045 DEPT FOR OES/EGC NELSON AND LARSEN, OES/S/SECC KASTENBERG DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ENRC, SCA/INSB, SCA/P, SCA/RA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGKG SENV ENRG XD NP SUBJECT: NEPAL NON-COMMITAL ON COPEHAGEN ACCORD REF: STATE 3079 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Nepal is still considering whether to associate itself with the Copenhagen Accord. As one of the countries most affected by climate change, Government of Nepal (GON) officials were annoyed they were not "adequately consulted" in the negotiations. End Summary. Frustration at Exclusion from Negotiations -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a January 14 meeting with Minister of Environment Thakur Sharma, Charge John Ordway urged Nepal to associate itself with the Copenhagen Accord (reftel). Charge underscored the importance of signing on to the Accord since it was the only game in town; without it there was no basis to move forward. As an LDC and one of the countries most affected by climate change, Nepal would have priority access to adaptation funds promised in the accord. ¶3. (SBU) Minister Sharma was non-committal and mentioned that Nepal is yet to discuss the Copenhagen Accord in the Cabinet. He added that Nepal's response will be in accordance with Prime Minister Madhav Nepal's statement in Copenhagen. Minister Sharma underlined that Nepal was unhappy with the way the Copenhagen Accord was introduced in the COP-15, highlighting Nepal's displeasure of not being included in the group of 28 head of states and ministers involved in the negotiation (while Maldives was). GON's Climate Change Position -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Minister Sharma summarized Nepal's climate change position: (1) hold the increase in global below 1.5 degrees centigrade compared to pre- industrial levels; (2) maintain carbon dioxide concentration at 350 ppm; (3) ensure that LDCs have unhindered access to adequate funds required to adapt to climate change; and (4) receive a commitment from developed nations to a legally binding agreement in line with the Kyoto Protocol and LCA. Sharma said he looked forward to COP-16 in Mexico and hoped that developing nations would give greater importance to scientific findings on climate change, rather than political gains. ¶5. (SBU) Responding to Sharma's arguments, Charge reiterated that no deal is really ever perfect. The Copenhagen Accord is the best possible deal for the moment. Nepal should sign on to it and work with U.S. and others to progress ahead. International negotiations have to take into account the practical social, economic and political realities, not only scientific facts. WWF Also Urges GON to Support Copenhagen -------------- ¶6. (U) In a separate January 17 discussion on climate change, visiting PDAS Moon also met with Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohra and environmental activists, including Mr. Andreas Shild, Director General, International Center for Integration Mountain Development (ICIMOD); Dawa Steven Sherpa, two-time Everest climber and civil society leader; Bhola Bhattarai, General Secretary, Federation of Community Forestry Users, and Ugan Manandhar, World Wildlife Fund/Nepal expert. PDAS Moon urged Nepal to support the Copenhagen Accord. Bohra was also non-committal, adding that the cabinet would soon discuss the issue. WWF's Manandhar also urged Bohra to support the Copenhagen Accord, stating that COP-15 "represents a very positive step and addresses some critical issues". ¶7. (U) Bohra also outlined the GON's strategy to become a leader on climate change both regionally and as a key member of the group of mountain states. Nepal is also seeking to address climate change through expanding its network of conservation areas, attempting to increase hydropower output, fostering cultivation of non-timber forest products, and seeking to prevent disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods. Post Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Nepal appears more upset by the procedure of arriving at the Accord rather than the details itself. Sharma's particular bone seems to be the fact that Maldives was included into the group of 28 heads of state and ministers, while Nepal wasn't. On several occasions during the meeting, Sharma mentioned that Nepal was one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, especially in view of its impact on the Himalayas, the source of water to over a billion people downstream. He regretted that his country was not consulted adequately. ¶9. (SBU) The GON's caution also seems be fed by the negative media surrounding Copenhagen and its weak political position. That said, the government is cognizant of the fact that if they do not support the Accord they may lose access to significant funds. Senior government bureaucrats who attended the Copenhagen are aware of this and are quietly lobbying decision-makers to support the Accord. ORDWAY