UKRAINE: DEMARCHE ON COPENHAGEN ACCORD DELIVERED

UNCLAS KYIV 000129 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; OES/EGC DNELSON AND KLARSEN; OES/ENV RKASTENBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV PGOV KGHG ENRG UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: DEMARCHE ON COPENHAGEN ACCORD DELIVERED REF: STATE 3079 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ¶1. (U) The Government of Ukraine (GOU) has no principle objections to associating with the Copenhagen Accord. However, given upcoming Presidential elections, it is uncertain that Ukraine will complete its association by the January 31 deadline. Post delivered reftel talking points to Igor Lupaltsov, head of the National Environmental Investment Agency (NEIA) and head of Ukraine's Copenhagen delegation, and to Dmytro Matushenko, Economic Cooperation Department Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),urging the GOU to associate with the Copenhagen Accord and present its emission reduction target by January 31. Representatives at the NEIA and the MFA told us that that their respective agencies had no objections to Ukraine's association but the final decision would be made by the Cabinet of Ministers (CabMin). On January 24, the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission discussed the issue and passed reftel points to the Deputy Prime Minister's chief advisor, Igor Zhovkva. Zhovkva said that Ukraine was likely to associate itself, and that the CabMin would base its decision on Lupaltsov's recommendations. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: We believe that Ukraine will eventually associate with the Accord and will provide an emission reduction target. Ukraine is interested in achieving a climate change agreement to supplant the Kyoto Protocol. Ukraine has large amounts of unused carbon credits, and its antiquated industry gives it great potential to generate and sell additional carbon credits by improving efficiency and reducing emissions. Nonetheless, given that Ukraine holds the second round of presidential elections on February 7, there is no certainty that Ukraine will complete the association process by January 31. We will continue engaging our interlocutors in the government and will report any substantive developments. End Comment. TEFFT