CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON CLIMATE

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000033 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: REPLY TO DEMARCHE ON CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS REF: STATE 3080 ¶1. (SBU) On January 20 Charge d'Affaires Thompson-Jones delivered reftel demarche to Environment Minister Jan Dusik and Environment Ministry Department of Multilateral Relations Director Jiri Hlavacek. Dusik said the EU plans to associate itself with the Copenhagen Accord and inscribe its targets before the January 31 deadline. The Czech Republic does not plan to make an individual submission, since the EU submission will cover the EU and all of the member states. ¶2. (SBU) He said that COREPER is still discussing the levels of commitment to appear in the submission, but the likely outcome is a pledge to reduce carbon emissions 20 percent by ¶2020. This figure, however, could potentially increase to 30 percent if "the right deal is struck." He said that the EU will next need to determine how to distribute the burden of emissions cuts. Dusik also expressed disappointment that December's Copenhagen summit did not result in binding commitments, and hopes that a precedent of "power plays" and voluntary pledges has not been set. He said a renewal of the Kyoto Protocol would also be an unsatisfactory outcome. ¶3. (SBU) Dusik asked about the likely timeline for U.S. Senate passage of climate change legislation. Charge assured Dusik that this legislation is a major priority for both the Obama administration and Congress. She also highlighted domestic programs already working towards lower emissions, including investment in renewable technologies and new home appliance efficiency standards. ¶4. (SBU) After the meeting with Charge, Dusik led a presentation by Ministry officials to non-EU Chiefs of Missions. Dusik identified climate protection as a Ministry priority, and said that the government is now finalizing its policies on climate protection and energy. ¶5. (SBU) EconOff also delivered reftel demarche on January 19 to Environment Ministry Climate Change Department Director Pavel Zamyslicky. Zamyslicky also spoke about the EU's likely "20 by 2020" inscription, and stressed that the EU will continue to work both inside the UN climate negotiations framework and through other international platforms such as the G20 to reach a binding climate agreement. Thompson-Jones