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DE RUEHSG #0575/01 1702043
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 192043Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5085
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 4036
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2454
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0968
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RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2448
RUEAEPA/EPA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000575 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR H, WHA/BSC, OES, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENVR ETRD PGOV PREL OVIP CI
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MEACHAM - CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER, AND U.S. 
COOPERATION IN CHILE 
 
REF:  08 SANTIAGO 1096 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Senior Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Member 
Carl Meacham on May 27-June 3 met with Chilean officials, NGOs, as 
well as academics to review the effects of climate change.  He also 
conducted a site visit to the El Maule region, which has been 
impacted by climate change.  All the consulted experts expressed 
concerns about the trend of declining rainfall, climate 
characteristics moving southward, and the impact of reduced 
water-availability.  Regarding potential areas for U.S.-Chile 
cooperation, several experts recommended that the two countries 
explore exchanging information on water market issues, effective use 
of sub-soil ground water, promoting water storage, water 
bench-marking measures, national studies on the effects of climate 
change, and more efficient irrigation methods.  END SUMMARY. 
 
A Variety of Interlocutors 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  During a packed program (May 27-June 3), Senior Foreign 
Relations Committee Professional Staff Member Carl Meacham discussed 
growing concerns about climate change in Chile and potential areas 
of U.S.-Chile cooperation.  Meacham met with representatives from 
the Foreign Ministry, National Council for the Environment (CONAMA), 
General Directorate for Water (DGA), Ministry of Agriculture, the 
Agriculture Protection and Development Service (SAG), National 
Forestry Corporation (CONAF), NGO Chile Sustentable, the UN Economic 
Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Universidad 
de Chile, and the Ministry of Agriculture's Research Institute 
(INIA).  In the visit to El Maule, Meacham's schedule included 
meetings with the El Maule Regional Council, the Maule River 
Vigilance Committee, the Catholic University of El Maule, as well as 
the regional offices of SAG, CONAMA, and INIA. 
 
¶3.  Meacham also connected with a variety of opinion-makers.  The 
Ambassador hosted a lunch with political pundits.  Meacham gave an 
exclusive interview to the El Mercurio newspaper.  He also 
participated in a discussion at Instituto Libertad y Desarrollo (a 
local think-tank) about Chile's upcoming elections. 
 
Climate Change Underway 
----------------------- 
 
¶4.  Chilean authorities told Meacham that climate change is already 
affecting the country, which is experiencing varying effects in 
different regions of the country.  The head of the General 
Directorate of Water (DGA), Rodrigo Weisner, noted there is 
decreased rainfall in areas such as Santiago, which previously 
received considerably more rain.  Temuco in the southern 9th region 
experienced record high temperatures, notably 35 degrees centigrade 
during one entire summer month when the average high is only 24 
degrees.  All agreed that the climate north of Santiago is getting 
drier and less rainfall is falling south of the capital. 
 
¶5.  CONAF Deputy Executive Director, Luis Duchens, noted that 
forestry authorities are experiencing droughts not seen in the past 
50 years.  During the past year, for example, the number of forest 
fires had increased notably.  The Ministry of Agriculture advisor on 
climate change, Andres Laroze, indicated that Vina del Mar's climate 
is becoming more like that of northern La Serena (a 5-hour car drive 
from Santiago and closer to the Atacama desert zone), with little or 
no rain.  Several experts noted that rainfall has increasingly come 
from sudden downpours that turn into runoff, which feeds into the 
ocean instead of replenishing the sub-soil water supply as it has 
traditionally done. 
 
¶6.  INIA's Sergio Gonzalez expressed concern, as did others, about 
the impact of climate change on small farmers, many of whom grow 
wheat and corn.  The operating cost to small farmers is likely to 
increase because of their steady demand for water.  He noted farmers 
will need to become more efficient, producing the same amounts of 
product using less water.  He noted that the mountain snow lines are 
receding, which affect water supplies after a winter season. 
 
GOC Response to Reduce Gashouse Emissions 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  Sara Larrain of Chile Sustentable (an NGO) served on the team 
that prepared the GOC's December 2008 Action Plan on Climate Change 
(reftel).  She spoke at length about the government's plans to 
diversify its energy matrix, which she thought could have been more 
 
ambitious.  Larrain noted that the GOC relies heavily on fossil 
fuels, particularly since its failed attempt to diversify the 
country's energy sources with Argentine natural gas.  The GOC 
projects that by 2010 non-conventional renewable energy will 
represent 5% of the country's total energy production.  By 2024 that 
figure rises to 10%, a figure Larrain thought should be doubled. 
 
¶8.  Larrain emphasized that Chile could not continue on its current 
path generating disproportionate greenhouse gas emissions, producing 
four times the world average and twice the average in Latin America. 
 She indicated that, unlike other countries, Chile has many natural 
resources to develop renewable energy.  She highlighted Chile's 
steady supply of sunlight in the Atacama Desert, heavy winds along 
the coast, and several locations with geothermal activity, which 
after an initial capital investment could be economically feasible. 
 
 
¶9.  The experts consulted agreed that Chile needs to diversify its 
energy sources and diminish its use of highly-contaminating diesel 
and coal.  There is increased focus on renewable energy, but its 
development will take many years, several commented. 
 
Field Trip to El Maule 
---------------------- 
 
¶10.  Meacham traveled to Talca -- the capital of the El Maule (7th) 
region -- and its environs June 1-2 to see first-hand the impacts of 
climate change on one of Chile's top zones of agricultural 
production.  El Maule is well-known for its fruits and wines, as 
well as for the local sense of humor (e.g., a famous local phrase 
proclaims Talca's place among famous cities of the world:  "Talca, 
Paris, and London!").  During a meeting with El Maule's Regional 
Council and the Deputy Regional Governor, Meacham was told the area 
was an excellent location in which to survey the effects of climate 
change.  This was because of recent changes in the water supply and 
weather conditions that were having a significant impact on the 
local economy. 
 
¶11.  The Director of the Maule River Vigilance Committee (Junta de 
Vigilancia del Rio Maule), Manuel Gonzalez, echoed the commentary of 
INIA's Sergio Gonzalez (para 7).  He said that while measured 
rainfall had recently been at normal levels, there was much less 
snow in the Andes (the river's chief water source).  This was 
contributing to a reduction in the region's water supplies that 
could seriously impact the entire region.  The organization was 
trying to change water usage habits in El Maule and develop a system 
of more efficient irrigation (e.g., building reservoirs). 
 
¶12.  At the Catholic University of El Maule, the Director of the 
School of Forestry, Carmen Bravo, noted climate change was impacting 
local forests as water supplies diminished, carbon exposure 
increased, and micro-climate changes produced shifts in insect 
populations.  A representative from the School of Agriculture 
reported that local apples and cherries (a specialty of the El Maule 
region) were ripening faster in terms of color as result of climate 
change, but not in terms of taste or smell.  All the Chilean 
participants in the meeting lamented the lack of any national 
studies on climate change.  They reported that very little research 
existed comparing the effects of climate change in previous years 
and forecasting possible changes in Chile. 
 
¶13.  During the meetings with the regional offices of SAG, CONAMA, 
and INIA, officials reiterated the importance of tackling water 
issues in El Maule.  SAG representatives were particularly vocal 
about the need to change irrigation practices so that local farmers 
could adapt to shifting climate conditions.  During a visit to the 
rural town of Empedrado, Meacham attended a meeting in which local 
government officials were attempting to get local farmers to 
participate in a local reservoir plan.  CONAMA noted El Maule had a 
poor understanding of its water usage as well as subterranean 
supplies.  Local INIA representatives suggested a national 
organization in Chile dedicated to water issues. 
 
Potential U.S.-Chile Cooperation 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶14.  The Executive Director of CONAMA, Alvaro Sapag, noted that 
Chile does a good job providing potable water to its residents, 
comparable to the numbers one could find 
in OECD countries.  He said Chile would be a good candidate to share 
its experience with other countries that have not successfully 
 
created a clean water supply and efficient distribution system. 
 
¶15.  Experts also highlighted Chile's need to better manage 
increasingly scarce water resources.  The representatives from ECLAC 
expressed concerns about increasing political and social debate 
surrounding water usage and allocation, including between competing 
exports sectors such as the mining industry and irrigated 
agriculture. 
 
¶16.  Meacham received many suggestions for future U.S.-Chile 
cooperation.  Most focused on water issues, which are impacted by 
climate change.  Recommendations included: 
 
-- Sharing information and promoting cooperation on water 
monitoring, including river levels, subterranean supplies, and water 
quality, as well as data recording technology. 
 
-- Sharing information and promoting cooperation on water market 
transactions and ways to lower these costs (e.g., review efforts in 
New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado). 
 
-- Cooperating on promoting new techniques to measure ground water 
and utilize this water efficiently in irrigation. 
 
--Promoting water storage in affected regions (such as a system of 
reservoirs in El Maule to help counteract the impact of climate 
change). 
 
--Cooperating in the research and creation of studies comparing and 
forecasting the effects of climate change in Chile's regions. 
 
--Teacher and student exchanges between universities in Chile and 
the U.S. related to the study of climate change and its impacts 
(especially on agriculture and forestry). 
 
¶17.  This cable has been cleared by Carl Meacham. 
SIMONS