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DE RUEHC #9413 0301438
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 301436Z JAN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
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UNCLAS STATE 009413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ENRG EPET KGHG KPAO KSCA OPDC SENV SOCI TRGY XL
XM, XS 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR EMBASSY TO ENCOURAGE HOST COUNTRY 
PLEDGE TO ADVANCE THE UPTAKE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AT THE 
WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE 
(WIREC) MARCH 4-6, 2008 
 
REF: A.) STATE 563 B.) STATE 559 C.) STATE 521 
 
NOTE: because of the large number of action addressees for 
this cable, Department is sending 
two duplicate cables, one to WHA posts (this cable) and the 
other to posts outside of 
WHA (septel) 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  Action request in para 9. 
 
--------------- 
SUMMARY 
--------------- 
 
¶2.  Summary:  This message provides background information on 
how national governments can make voluntary pledges to 
accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.  These 
national pledges, as well as pledges from other major 
stakeholders, are regarded as a central outcome of the 
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC). 
 We plan a dedicated session at WIREC to review these 
pledges.  Pledges can be made either on-line or by email. 
Appropriate Embassy officials are requested to work closely 
with their host country counterparts to encourage robust 
national pledges to be announced at, or prior, to WIREC. 
Washington agencies appreciate the strong Embassy support 
that we have received in support of WIREC.  End Summary 
 
--------------------- 
BACKGROUND 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.  Background:   In reftels, the Secretary invited host 
governments to send delegations to WIREC 2008, the third 
global ministerial-level event on renewable energy after Bonn 
(2004) and Beijing (2005).  WIREC will serve as a global 
platform for ministers from more than 90 nations, and leaders 
from sub-national governments, the private sector and civil 
society to consider and discuss the benefits that policies 
and best practices that encourage the rapid deployment of 
renewable energy would have in their countries. 
 
¶4.  In the third paragraph of her invitation letter, the 
secretary invited the host government to consider making a 
 
SIPDIS 
voluntary pledge at WIREC &to accelerate the deployment of 
renewable energy in your country.8 
 
¶5.  We consider these voluntary national pledges, as well as 
pledges made by other major WIREC stakeholders, will be a 
major outcome of WIREC.  We are dedicating a full session on 
the last day of WIREC to publicize and discuss the pledges 
that will comprise the Washington International Action Plan 
(WIAP).  At Bonn 2004, participants pledged 197 specific 
voluntary actions which collectively became know as the Bonn 
International Action Plan (IAP).  For background on the kinds 
of actions pledged at Bonn which may inspire WIAP pledges, 
please visit the IAP website at www.REN21.net/iap 
 
¶6.  The development of the Bonn pledges has been ably 
followed by, and reported on, by the secretariat of the 
Renewable Energy Network (REN21) which was launched at Bonn. 
REN21 is comprised of renewable energy policy leaders from 
national governments, including the US, China, Germany, and 
India; international organizations, such as the World Bank, 
UNEP and the IEA; and civil society, such as the American 
Council of Renewable Energy (ACORE).  REN21 has kindly agreed 
to consolidate, analyze, and follow-up in coming years on the 
pledges made at WIREC.  The live one-page WIREC pledge 
template is housed on the REN21 website. 
 
¶7. On the homepage of the USG,s official WIREC2008.gov 
website, we have a green pledge bar prominently displayed at 
the top of the left hand side of the page which when clicked 
on provides detailed background information on the pledge 
process, including examples of the wide variety of pledges 
that governments or other major stakeholders might make. 
Additionally, there are instructions on how to fill out a 
one-page pledge template and a sample template is provided. 
A web address is provided for those who prefer to fill out 
the template on line.  Alternatively, if the host government 
prefers to email the pledge template, there are instructions 
on how to do this.  We anticipate that, in many countries, 
more than one government entity will be in a position to make 
a pledge and multiple pledges are welcome.  In the event that 
questions arise, a REN21 contact point is provided. 
 
¶8.  We want to emphasize that any pledges made prior to the 
start of WIREC will be held in strict confidence by the WIREC 
organizers.  It is up to the host government to choose how 
and when to announce its pledge.  In select cases, in the 
lead up to WIREC, the USG may contact a host government to 
ascertain if they would consider making a public announcement 
about their pledge prior to WIREC. 
 
------------------------- 
ACTION REQUEST 
------------------------- 
 
¶9.  Action request:  appropriate embassy officials, including 
the designated WIREC POC, should work closely with 
appropriate host country officials and entities who are 
coming to WIREC to encourage them to take the internal steps 
needed to allow a robust, voluntary national pledge to be 
announced at, or prior, to WIREC.  In embassy contacts with 
appropriate host government officials, we suggest that hard 
copies of the pledge information noted in para 5 be provided. 
 
------------------------------------- 
FOR MORE INFROMATION 
------------------------------------- 
¶10.  Post questions about the WIREC pledge process can be 
sent to Stan Specht, WIREC action group team leader at 
spechtsh@state.gov. 
 
¶11.  Minimize considered. 
RICE