ZAMBIA PLAYS WAIT AND SEE WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORD

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000095

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/EGC DNELSON AND KLARSEN, OES/ENV RKASTENBERG,
AND AF/S LAYLWARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2020
TAGS: PREL KGHG SENV ENRG ZA
SUBJECT: ZAMBIA PLAYS WAIT AND SEE WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORD

REF: A. STATE 3080

B. STATE 11182

C. LUSAKA 0044

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Michael Koplovsky for reasons 1.
4 (b,d)


1. (C) Zambian Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural
Resources Catherine Namugala told Charge February 10 that the
Zambian government (GRZ) declined to associate itself with
the Copenhagen Accord (refs A and B). She echoed concerns
she shared with the Ambassador January 19 (ref C) that COP-15
should have produced a "binding" treaty, that the Accord did
not specify carbon emission reduction targets for developed
countries, and that the funding to fight climate change was
not assured. She was also concerned how the Accord would
affect Zambia -- especially the prospect that an agreement
would impose an emissions reduction target on Zambia as it
strives to meet its development objectives while providing
inadequate funding to help Zambia mitigate climate change.


2. (C) Applying the "best defense is a good offense"
approach, Namugala pressed Charge on USG plans to sign and
implement the Kyoto Accord. Namugala left the door slightly
ajar by telling Charge that Zambia would respond formally to
the UNFCCC "shortly." When Charge pressed her on the
regional concensus coalescing around the Accord, she
acknowledged that Zambian President Banda had signed on to
the African Union's explicit support for the Accord during
the recent AU Summit. Namugala was unmoved by reports that
half a dozen SADC neighbors had associated themselves. She
also suggested that Zambia might support the Accord or a
follow-on agreement if there is movement toward a binding
treaty that sets specific emissions targets for developed
countries and adequately funds the Global Climate Fund.
KOPLOVSKY