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DE RUEHBS #0664/01 1311126
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111126Z MAY 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000664 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG KTDB SENV TPHY
TRGY, TSPL 
SUBJECT: INDIAN CLIMATE NEGOTIATOR TELLS EUROPEAN AUDIENCE 
THAT HE IS PESSIMISTIC ON UN NEGOTIATIONS 
 
¶1. (SBU) In an April 30 speech delivered to the Center for 
European Policy Studies, Shyam Saran, India's Special Envoy 
for Climate Change, stated that the "western" approach to 
financing and mitigation in developing countries will not 
work and that financing should be based on the developing 
countries' priorities.  He also argued that the economic 
crisis is not a way to convert economies to low-carbon 
societies, as many have claimed.  Saran focused on four key 
topics during his speech targeted at a European audience: 
     -- Positive outlook on the developments in the United 
States, including the Major Economies Forum (MEF); but 
     -- Lack of optimism on the status of the UNFCCC 
negotiations; 
     -- Questioning the EU's negotiating position vis-a-vis 
the developing world; and 
     -- Highlighting India's efforts to reduce emissions. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Saran was positive on developments in the United 
States, including the change of Administration and the Major 
Economies Forum (MEF), but did not comment on President 
Obama's proposed return to 1990 emissions levels by 2020.  He 
praised the MEF as a forum that will help build an 
"atmosphere of confidence and trust."  He said the technology 
discussion that took place during the MEF was very positive 
and something on which all countries should build to develop 
a common global platform for cooperation on carbon capture 
and storage (CCS), solar energy, and energy efficiency. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In spite of his positive outlook on the situation in 
the United States, Saran is pessimistic on the UNFCCC 
negotiations.  He argued that not much progress was made in 
Bonn in March, "very much less" than what should have taken 
place.  Instead the negotiations are currently adversarial in 
nature, a trend that inevitably leads to a "least common 
denominator" solution.  Nevertheless, he said that all 
countries should aim for an ambitious result in Copenhagen. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Saran emphasized that despite press reporting, the 
international community is not negotiating a new climate 
change treaty.  Instead, the effort is to develop an enhanced 
implementation of the existing treaty incorporating four 
areas: mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing. 
     -- He was concerned that not all developed countries 
have clearly indicated mid-term mitigation targets, and 
unless there is progress the possibilities for an agreement 
are reduced. 
     -- He argued that adaption is as important, if not more 
so, than mitigation, and the adaptation fund needs much more 
money to address global issues.  India alone, he said, spends 
2-2.5% of its GDP on adaptation. 
     -- Technology requires a global response, and several 
developing countries including India have significant 
resources -- intellectual capital prime among them -- to 
address the issue. 
     -- Financing is the most important concern, and 
according to Saran, requires the most work to come to 
agreement. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Saran strongly questioned the EU's position 
vis-a-vis developing countries.  He explained that the voices 
coming from Europe calling for major emerging economies to 
take binding commitments before developed countries adopt 
stronger targets have no legal basis.  He noted that 
according to the Kyoto framework, there are no commitments 
required by developing countries, and the EU should accept 
low carbon strategies as sufficient, as opposed to the EU 
Commission's preferred 15-30% deviation below baseline.  A 
cap on emissions, he argued, is a cap on development.  He 
also explained that the EU's proposal to use revenues from 
carbon markets was untenable, as the inconsistent price of 
carbon prevents a predictable revenue stream.  However, Saran 
did welcome the "lead" taken by the EU with its 20% reduction 
target, though he urged more ambitious targets. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Saran detailed the existing efforts in India 
underway independent of an international agreement.  He said 
that India has an ambitious national action plan that is 
being completely ignored by the press and developed 
countries.  He highlighted national effors to increase solar 
power, energy efficiency 20% improvement through 2012), 
sustainable habitats, and the Green India initiative to 
increase forest cover by 20-30%.  Additionally, India is 
working to improve coal efficiency and CCS technologies, both 
key to continued use of coal resources.  Saran indicated that 
there is strong engagement with the EU, an important part of 
the global response to energy R&D. 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00000664  002 OF 002 
 
 
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