Namibia Wary, But Aligning with Copenhagen

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000090 SENSITIVE SIPDIS OES FOR DREW NELSON, OES FOR RACHEL KASTENBERG, OES FOR KATE LARSEN, AF/S FOR PHAEDRA GWYN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV WA SUBJECT: Namibia Wary, But Aligning with Copenhagen REF: REF A) 10 WINDHOEK 80; REF B) 10 STATE 3080 ¶1. (U) Following up on the demarche delivered by Ambassador to Prime Minsiter Nahas Angula on January 25 (REF A),Emboff met on January 27 with the Teofilus Nghitila, Director of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism. ¶2. (SBU) Nghitila expressed disappointment with the outcome from Copenhagen, specifically noting the lack of binding commitments to reduced emission levels in developed countries. Despite this, he asserted that "at least it is something - and something is better than nothing." Therefore, he stated, the GRN will "align" itself in support of the Copenhagen Accord. Nghitila acknowledged that a desire to ensure access to the finance and technology-sharing mechanisms of the Accord was a "significant" part of the rationale for this decision. He also stated that Namibia intends to provide a "strong voice" in the future negotiations, advocating for a clear and binding agreement by 2012, which will secure these mechanisms and impose emission reduction levels. ¶3. (SBU) Nghitila asserted his "strong feeling" that GRN would register its association with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Secretariat before January 31, with the caveat that no official word had yet been received from the Prime Minister's office. Referencing a conversation from earlier in the day with Permanent Secretary Shangula, Nghitila stated that the Copenhagen Accord had been discussed at the previous day's Cabinet meeting and that an official announcement from the Prime Minister's office would be forthcoming "soon." MATHIEU