SPAIN WORKING WITH EU PARTNERS TO REACH EMISSIONS

UNCLAS MADRID 000031 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/ECG DREW NELSON AND KATE LARSEN, 0ES/S/SECC RACHEL KASTENBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG SP SUBJECT: SPAIN WORKING WITH EU PARTNERS TO REACH EMISSIONS TARGET CONSENSUS REF: SECSTATE 03080 ¶1. As the newly arrived Ambassador is still making introductory calls, Post engaged at working level to quickly convey the message on climate change. Econoff delivered the demarche to Deputy Director General for Climate Change Affairs Paz Valiente and Deputy Director General for Emissions Trading and Flexibility Mechanisms Ismael Aznar Cano, both in the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs. They confirmed that the EU believes it is important to show broad support for the Copenhagen Accord. The Permanent Representatives of the EU discussed emissions targets and associating with the Accord during a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, January 13. There is broad consensus on associating with the Accord, but EU member states are still working out the technical matter of whether to associate jointly or individually by country. ¶2. Aznar said that the more important issue, currently being discussed at the Ministerial meeting in Seville (January 14-17),is the emissions target. He said that it is likely to be the 20% target initially proposed, since the 30% figure presented during the Copenhagen discussions was contingent on commitments by other developed countries and major emitters. Aznar added that it would be difficult to take revised commitments by non-EU countries into consideration at this point given the January 31 deadline. However, he indicated that a target above 20% was within the realm of possibilities. The Ambassador will reiterate demarche talking points as appropriate in his introductory calls. SOLOMONT