NORWAY'S POST COP-15 STEPS AND COPENHAGEN ACCORD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 000030 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHA SENV ENRG NO SUBJECT: NORWAY'S POST COP-15 STEPS AND COPENHAGEN ACCORD VIEWS REF: SECSTATE 003080 OSLO 00000030 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Norwegian acting chief climate negotiator Audun Rosland told DCM and PolEconOff January 15 that Norway had hoped for a more ambitious deal, but views the Copenhagen Accord as an important step in the right direction. He said that the Annex I countries (industrialized nations) must strive to ensure momentum is not lost in the run-up to COP 16 in Mexico City. Rosland said Norway would subscribe to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat before the January 31st deadline, and will decide by early next week whether to announce a 30 percent or 40 percent reduction in emissions. He also described plans for Norway and France to set up meetings to discuss the REDD-plus initiative in the Copenhagen Accord, noting that a concept paper was in the works. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Norway's acting Chief Climate Negotiator Audun Rosland and Ministry of Environment Senior Advisor Kristen Jacobsen told DCM and PolEconOff January 15 that while the Copenhagen Accord is not as ambitious as the GON hoped for, it is a good foundation and an important first step, given the complexity of the COP-15 negotiations. Rosland said that he expects "challenging times ahead" and that we must plan carefully on how best to implement the Accord and ensure it is not marginalized in the run up to COP 16 in Mexico City. Rosland said Norway deeply appreciated President Obama's action to establish the Accord. He expressed concern over China's posture, adding that China's participation would be crucial to the process, and without it, we would be back to square one on climate change. In regards to the EU meeting on the Accord that took place the week-end of January 16 and 17, Rosland said that although Norway initially was invited, they were subsequently un-invited, which, according to Rosland, is indicative of the highly political nature of the discussions. He added that only the UK was positive on 30% reduction goal. Norway to announce 30% or 40% target -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In a follow-up conversation January 20 with PolEconOff, Rosland said that Norway would indicate its support and sign up for the Accord preferably later this week, and submit its targets to the UNFCCC Secretariat before the January 31 deadline. He said that the GON was holding �A;internal discussions on Norway's emissions reductions goal, and how best to announce Norway's intended 40% emissions reduction target. Soria Moria II, the GON's governing platform established after the national elections in September 2009, calls for a 40% reduction. However, the GON wanted to achieve maximum impact when announcing its 40% goal, so as to influence other countries to raise their own targets. He said they may wait until closer to the Mexico City discussions. He concluded by noting that the "Friends of the Accord" groups were pushing Norway to announce the 40% target as soon as possible. Moving Forward -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Rosland said he would like the U.S. to reach for further targets on combating climate change, but understood DCM's point that the current administration cannot get ahead of the U.S. Congress on this issue. Rosland added that if U.S. legislation on climate change could be passed before the UNFCCC subsidiary bodies meeting in Bonn scheduled to begin in May, it would provide impetus to push the Accord forward. Rosland said that prompt action to disburse the USD 30 billion in funds pledged to the High Level Panel would also help push the process forward and reduce the ability of nay-sayers to sidetrack the initiative. Jacobsen chimed in, noting that while we need to have a strong UNFCCC track, we need to make sure we have a process that "delivers." Rosland added a balance was needed to ensure an initial focus on "willing countries" to achieve some progress, without alienating the "unwilling countries," in the hope that they will eventually support the process. He said that the Copenhagen Accord does allow for initiatives to be pursued, and asked if the U.S. has plans on leading a meeting to discuss Accord procedures. Jacobsen brought up the Implementing Agreement Proposal, and said it could be a vehicle for moving the Accord forward. REDD-plus next steps -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Rosland outlined discussions between Norway and France to further develop the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation initiative outlined in the OSLO 00000030 002.2 OF 002 Copenhagen Accord, REDD-plus, including an initial meeting in France with the six donor countries, U.S., UK, France, Norway, Japan, and Australia, and also Papua New Guinea. The plan would be for the follow-up meeting to take place in Norway, before the Bonn meetings in May. He noted that USD 3.5 billion had been pledged to support REDD-plus, and that a concept paper was in development to determine how best to move the initiative forward. WHITE