AMBASSADOR'S CONVERSATION WITH SPANISH CLIMATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000068 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/ECG DREW NELSON AND KATE LARSEN, S/SECC RACHEL KASTENBERG, STATE PASS EPA FOR ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON, EMBASSIES FOR ESTH OFFICERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG SP KGHG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CONVERSATION WITH SPANISH CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATOR REF: A. STATE: 3080 ¶B. MADRID 31 MADRID 00000068 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Ambassador discussed follow-up to the Copenhagen Accord with Secretary of State for Climate Change Teresa Ribera on January 21. The discussion focused on Spain's outreach efforts in Latin America, particularly to counter efforts by Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba to discredit the Accord to discourage others from associating. Ribera, Spain's senior climate change negotiator, said most Latin America countries are likely to associate with the Accord but few are likely to inscribe mitigation actions. She said it would be helpful for the USG to talk to El Salvador and Guatemala about the benefits that association could bring. She also noted that engagement with China and India has been challenging. Ribera will be in Washington January 25-26. End Summary. Countering "Naysayers" in Latin America -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ribera said Spain is stressing the transparency and legitimacy of the Accord process to confront efforts by Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Cuba to discredit it. She suggested that Venezuela's position, deeply rooted in opposition to the U.S., was unlikely to change. Bolivia, which had meaningfully contributed to climate change discussions two years ago, had moved closer to Venezuela's position and could not be expected to change. Ribera added that of the "naysayers" Nicaragua and Ecuador had the potential to be less obstructive. She also said that Cuba wanted real action on climate change and has productively participated in past climate change discussions -- particularly as an interlocutor with Venezuela. Despite Cuba feeling sidelined by the Accord process and being economically beholden to Venezuela, Ribera suggested that it has the potential to return to a more constructive role. ¶3. (SBU) While noting that pressure from the naysayers was getting to some Latin American countries, Ribera said most were likely to associate with the Accord by January 31. Spain is delicately engaging with countries it views as likely to associate -- such as Argentina, Uruguay and El Salvador -- but which might still waver. She added that it could be helpful for the USG to talk to El Salvador and Guatemala about the benefits that association could bring. Ribera emphasized that Brazil's Lula was playing a key role as a bridge to much of the region although this irritated Cuba. Still, she cautioned that few countries will inscribe to mitigation actions. Those that do commit to mitigation actions, potentially including Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Chile, will probably do so past the deadline. China and India -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ribera said that China and India have given contradictory messages, and China has been skittish about engaging in substantive climate change discussions with the EU or individual European countries. While Ribera felt it unlikely that China or India would make substantive commitments before the Delhi meeting later this month, she still thinks it is important to keep the pressure on China and India to be "mature players on the international stage." Off to Washington -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador thanked Ribera for her efforts and expressed confidence that she would have productive meetings in Washington with Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa MADRID 00000068 002.2 OF 002 Jackson on January 25-26. SOLOMONT