CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS: DRC

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000178 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/EGC (DREW NELSON AND KATE LARSEN) DEPT FOR OES/S/SECC (RACHEL KASTENBERG) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV CG SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS: DRC REF: STATE 3079; KINSHASA 58 ¶1. (U) Summary: As mentioned ref A, DCM met January 19 with Louise Mayuma Kasende, President Kabila's deputy chief of staff, who promised to convey our request to appropriate GDRC authorities (ref B). On January 31, the DRC formally adhered to the Copenhagen Accord (CA). This action was taken in the belief that half of its financial resources associated with Copenhagen would be allocated to Africa. The DRC plans to play an active role in promoting environmental conservation. End summary. DRC formally associates with Copenhagen Accord -------------- -- ¶2. (U) On January 31, during a meeting with the DRC Council of Ministers, Minister of Environment, Conservation of Nature and Tourism Jose Endundo signed off on the Copenhagen Accord and sent the signed document to Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexis Thambwe Mwamba for transmission to the DRC Ambassador to the United Nations. The DRC has, thus, decided to formally associate with the Copenhagen Accord. (Note: As of February 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had still not forwarded the letter of association to New York. End note.) ¶3. (U) Endundo opined that the GDRC was very interested in participating at the Copenhagen Summit as demonstrated by its large delegation whose membership included officials from different ministries, public administration offices, NGO's, universities and think-tanks. He stated that the GDRC considered the financial mechanism established by the Copenhagen Summit was a key milestone in global climate change efforts. According to Endundo, the GDRC believes that at least fifty percent of financial resources allocated to implementation of the Copenhagen Accord would be earmarked for Africa in order to protect its ecosystem. (Note: The Congo Basin contains the world's second largest rainforest after the Amazon. End note.) ¶4. (U) Comment: The DRC has the potential to play a pivotal role in protecting the environment in Africa. According to Minister Endundu, the DRC will soon take over the Presidency of the Ministerial Commission on Forests of Central Africa (known under its French acronym of COMIFAC),oversee the climate change issue for the continent of Africa during the next two years, and has been named by other African states to negotiate for them regarding follow-up of the Copenhagen Accord. After formal support of the Copenhagen Summit, the GDRC has listed the following priorities: preservation of ecosystems through human investment; dedication of resources to fight against poverty; research and development of "green" or environmentally friendly technologies, and promoting greater economic growth/financial returns for African countries. End comment. GARVELINK