VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #1987/01 1701659
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191659Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9482
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8978
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2340
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 7646
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUN PANAMA 3744

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001987 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV PGOV CO
SUBJECT: CLIMATE TO REMAIN PRIORITY UNDER NEW ENVIRONMENT 
MINISTER 
 
REF: BOGOTA 294 
 
¶1. (SBU)  SUMMARY.  The environmental and economic costs of 
climate change have resulted in increased GOC efforts to 
adapt to its potential impacts.  The Ministry of Environment 
(MOE) is most concerned with the effects of climate on 
Colombia's high mountain areas, Caribbean Coast, and its 
health sector.  The MOE's Office of Climate Change (OCC) said 
it will focus on those areas in its Second Kyoto 
Communication and in its up-coming national climate change 
policy.  However, while the MOE is pleased that the 
prioritization of climate will continue with the recently 
appointed Environment Minister Carlos Costa, local experts 
question his ability to politically maneuver and advance his 
agenda vis-a-vis other powerhouse ministries.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Focus on Climate Change to Continue 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU)  The director of the OCC Andrea Guerrero told us the 
recent appointment of Carlos Costa will ensure GOC 
prioritization of climate issues.  (NOTE: Costa, a water and 
climate expert who previously served as the Director of 
Colombia's Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and 
Environmental Studies (IDEAM), was appointed Minister April 
¶4.  END NOTE.) Guerrero said her office is "very excited and 
happy" with his appointment, as he has a background of 
promoting studies and projects regarding climate, even before 
it became of global importance.  She noted, however, that the 
GOC's priority areas -- high mountains, Caribbean coast and 
health sector -- would remain consistent in its Second Kyoto 
Communication and pending national climate change policy (ref 
A). 
 
Priority Areas:  High Mountains, Caribbean Coast, Health 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶3. (U)  The GOC considers the high Andean ecosystems, 
specifically its wetlands and glaciers, to be particularly 
vulnerable.  Sandra Lopez from the OCC stated that fifty 
percent of Colombia's glaciers have disappeared in the last 
fifty years, threatening biodiversity and the wetlands that 
serve as water regulators.  Lopez said the GOC is equally 
concerned with the resulting loss of economic benefits such 
as soil protection, food and water supply, and basin 
regulation, that wetlands generate.  The IDEAM Adaptation 
Director Maria Ordonez said expected sea-level increases also 
threaten Colombia's Caribbean coast, while the Pacific Coast 
will be less affected.  Ordonez expects Colombia's Caribbean 
sea level to rise by 40 centimeters by 2050, producing 
flooding that may overwhelm land-based ecosystems and coastal 
infrastructure.  She said the GOC is developing an adaptation 
plan for San Andres and Providencia, which flooding would 
most affect.  Ordonez said health was the third GOC priority, 
given that twenty million Colombians live in areas where 
temperatures rises will increase the spread of dengue and 
malaria. 
 
Obstacles: Funding and Ministerial Support 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Lopez said that while the GOC dramatically 
increased the budget of the OCC within the past year, 
increasing its ability to outreach and promote policy, there 
is still insufficient funding to implement projects.  She 
said that without international funding, the GOC could not 
generate climate scenarios nor implement adaptation programs. 
 Lopez noted that OCC was especially concerned with its 
ability to acquire financial and personnel support from other 
ministries.  She highlighted delays in interagency approval 
of the national climate change policy, which the MOE hoped to 
publish last month, as emblematic of lack of consensus 
amongst the involved ministries.  Lopez said other ministries 
verbally support climate initiatives but are hesitant to take 
on commitments. 
 
¶5. (U)  Ordonez said, however, that the MOE had made progress 
decentralizing climate, grouping departmental environmental 
authorities into 8-10 regional centers to develop 
regional-based climate policies in contrast to the present 
Bogota-centric arrangement.  The MOE expects all centers to 
function by the end of 2009.  She added that the MOE's 
territorial development sub-ministry must now also include 
climate considerations and consult with the OCC when doing 
municipal planning. 
 
Economic Effects Not Adequately Studied 
 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU)  Andrea Lampis, professor at Colombia's premier 
university Los Andes, added that while the GOC is taking 
strides to promote monitoring and adaptation of environmental 
effects in its priority areas, it is not devoting sufficient 
to the potential social and economic impacts of climate. 
Lampis argues that the GOC needs to adopt a 
"multi-dimensional approach" rather than focus on the same 
specific areas.  He said the GOC tends to react to issues 
rather than getting ahead of them, and that its approach to 
climate is no different; complaining that the GOC only acts 
in response to international pressure.  Ordonez agreed that 
the GOC has yet to produce one study regarding climate's 
economic or social impact, which could be devastating 
considering Colombia's dependence on agricultural and 
hydropower, as well as its deficits in infrastructure. 
Lampis lamented that the GOC has been focused on its national 
climate change policy for over two years, rather than helping 
vulnerable communities -- especially those dependent upon 
agriculture -- prepare and adapt. 
 
Comment:  Technical Skills Only Go So Far 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU)  The appointment of Minister Costa was roundly 
applauded by the environmental community, convinced that the 
Uribe Administration had finally internalized an 
environmental ethic that went beyond the personal initiative 
of former Minister Lozano.  One contact enthused that Costa 
is the "first true environmentalist" appointed as environment 
minister. However, as the delays in approving the national 
climate policy has shown, reaching governmental consensus on 
an issue as complicated and combustuous as climate change 
requires immense political skills.  It is unclear whether 
Costa possesses sufficient political punch to achieve to do 
battle with other ministerial heavyweights and achieve the 
ministry's lofty environmental goals. 
Brownfield