CAMEROON ON COPENHAGEN ACCORD AND NEXT STEPS

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000067

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CM ENRG KGHG PREL SENV
SUBJECT: CAMEROON ON COPENHAGEN ACCORD AND NEXT STEPS

REF: STATE 3080


1. (U) Summary: On January 21, Ambassador delivered reftel
demarche on the Copenhagen Accord to Cameroon's Foreign
Minister. On January 29, DCM met with Minister of
Environment and Nature Protection Pierre Hele to discuss the
Copenhagen climate change summit and deliver reftel demarche.
The Minsters were very positive about the Copenhagen Accord
and said Cameroon would likely associate with it, although a
final decision would have to be made by the Presidency. End
summary.

Associating with the Accord
--------------


2. (U) In a January 21 meeting, Ambassador delivered reftel
demarche to Foreign Minister Henri Eyebe Ayissi, who was very
positive about the Copenhagen Accord, stressing "we can only
support it" and noting Cameroon's ongoing participation in
preparations for post-Copenhagen climate change discussions.
DCM delivered reftel demarche on January 29 to Minister of
Environment Pierre Hele, encouraging Cameroon to formally
associate with the Accord by January 31. Hele expected
Cameroon would associate but he needed to clear it with the
Presidency before providing an official response, likely
before the deadline. He noted that President Biya had
participated actively at Copenhagen, suggesting Biya would
support the Accord.

Positive View of Copenhagen
--------------


3. (U) Minister Hele thought the Copenhagen Accord was
"positive" and provided a very good basis for follow-up. He
was pleased to see so many nations were at the table and to
see U.S. leadership on this issue. "There's no reason to be
discouraged" about Copenhagen, he said, praising the targets
set and elements in reftel talking points as "a very good
thing, if they are implemented". He hoped the commitment to
hold the global temperature increase to below 2 percent would
be revised in 2015 to 3 or 5 percent.


4. (U) Cameroon's approach to Copenhagen was in line with
the overall African position, Hele remarked. Cameroon hoped
to benefit from the different financial commitments made at
Copenhagen, especially in protecting the Congo Basin.
Copenhagen took into account "all the sensitive areas" for
Cameroon, Africa and less developed countries - the key would
be implementation, he noted.

Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) Hele and Ayissi both attended the Copenhagen
summit and were well informed about the issue. It is not
surprising that the decision to associate with the Accord
would have to go to the President, given Biya's attendance at
the Copenhagen summit and the government's highly centralized
nature. Cameroon will be eager to stay in step with the
majority of the international community on climate change and
to position itself well for the kind of financial assistance
envisioned under the Copenhagen Accord. We are confident
Cameroon will associate with the Accord; however, given the
government's typically slow decision-making process, it is
not at all clear that this will happen by January 31.
GARVEY