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OO RUEHAG RUEHLN
DE RUEHCP #0367/01 2391425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271425Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5136
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1507
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0611
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0544
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0125
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RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 0871
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 1665
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 2129
RUEHLN/AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 0354
RUEHAG/AMCONSUL HAMBURG 0070

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COPENHAGEN 000367 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/SECC, OES, EUR/NE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KGHG PGOV EFIN PREL DA
SUBJECT:  Danish Climate Minister on G-20, COP-15 
 
(U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.  NOT FOR 
INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1.  (U)This message contains an action request for OES/EGC--see para 
¶11. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Summary:  In an August 27 courtesy call, the Ambassador 
assured Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard that the U.S. 
remains committed to seeking a successful outcome at COP-15 climate 
talks in Copenhagen in December.  Hedegaard expressed appreciation 
for U.S. engagement in international climate talks, and willingness 
to work together to ensure a successful COP-15 outcome. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Hedegaard also urged the U.S. to assert its leadership in 
international climate negotiations by: 
--detailing how it will reduce emissions from 2020-2050; 
--including climate financing in the agenda for the G20 summit in 
Pittsburg; and by 
--weighing in with the Russian leadership to prevent unhelpful 
Russian climate initiatives.  End Summary. 
 
¶4.  (U) The Ambassador, accompanied by REO, paid her initial call on 
Climate Minister Connie Hedegaard on August 27.  Hedegaard was 
joined by the Danish climate negotiator, Thomas Becker, and by her 
chief of staff, Morten Sorensen.  Hedegaard acknowledged that she 
has been pleased by the approach of the new Administration on 
climate change. 
 
U.S. Climate Legislation 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Ambassador told Hedegaard that President Obama 
remained firmly committed to seeking global solutions to the 
challenge of climate change, including a successful outcome at 
COP-15, and that he is engaged both domestically and internationally 
to do so.  SECC Stern and the Secretary have advanced bilateral 
negotiations with major developing countries, including China and 
India.  On the domestic front, the Ambassador pointed to the 
dramatic steps taken by the President on auto standards, and noted 
that the U.S. House of Representatives also demonstrated commitment 
with the passage of the Waxman-Markey bill.  The Ambassador noted 
several times that the Waxman-Markey bill is "as good as it will 
get," and that a Senate bill would not be more ambitious--but 
perhaps less so.  Asked by Hedegaard how the ongoing healthcare 
debate would affect pending U.S. legislation on climate change, the 
Ambassador said the two issues are unrelated and being handled 
separately. 
 
China 
----- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Hedegaard said her government appreciated what it 
perceived as a dramatic shift in U.S. engagement in international 
climate negotiations since the change of U.S. administration.  The 
U.S. shift had in turn helped to move other major economies, 
including China, toward assuming greater responsibility under an 
international agreement.  She asked if specific outcomes were 
expected from U.S.-China bilateral dialogue before COP-15. 
Hedegaard said the Danish government perceived China to be committed 
to addressing climate change for its own domestic reasons involving 
its economic development, and wishes to avoid any appearance of 
doing so in response to international pressure.  Europe and the U.S. 
probably share the same interest in "protecting our roles as major 
players in this (technology) area," she said, indicating her belief 
that China might emerge as a leader in this field if the U.S. and 
Europe do not work together to demonstrate leadership. 
 
U.S. Emissions Target Path 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Hedegaard urged the U.S. to clarify its pathway for 
interim emission reduction commitments between 2020 and 2050.  Doing 
so would "help us understand how the U.S. will get from its 2020 
goal to its more ambitious 2050 goal," strengthening U.S. 
 
COPENHAGEN 00000367  002 OF 002 
 
 
credibility in the international climate negotiation. 
 
Climate Financing at G20 
------------------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Hedegaard said there had been some discussion of financing 
at MEF preparatory meetings before the G8 Summit in l'Aquila, and 
inquired whether it was true that financing adaptation would be part 
of the agenda at the upcoming G20 meeting in Pittsburgh.  The G20 
Summit offers an opportunity to make progress toward agreement on 
international donor financing of climate change.  An international 
donor commitment of funds for climate change adaptation (Becker 
suggested an initial commitment of up to 1 billion dollars or Euros, 
and agreement on some restructuring of international financial 
architecture) would be "crucial" to advance negotiations with the 
developing countries, she suggested.  Such a signal from the 
developed world would help encourage support among least developed 
countries, small island states, and many African nations, whose 
interests differ from those of the major emerging nations such as 
China, India and Brazil. 
 
Russia A Spoiler? 
---------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Hedegaard also specifically raised the issue of Russia, 
with the hope that the U.S. might play a role here.  She said she 
had visited Moscow in June and was concerned that Russian pride 
might complicate the quest for agreement at COP-15 unless 
"someone--and that can only be the U.S."--takes action to engage top 
Russian leaders (Putin, Medvedev, Lavrov) beforehand.  Only the U.S. 
had the clout to engage these leaders on climate, she said.  Doing 
so could help to quell growing resentment by Russian officials of 
perceived U.S. neglect.  Russia is alone among major industrial 
economies in projecting steep growth in its emissions between 2020 
and 2050, she said. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) In contrast with the Prime Minister a day before 
(SepTel), Hedegaard did not raise Denmark's intention that the UN 
identify the COP-15 meeting as a heads of state summit.  She did 
allude to strong local interest whether President Obama will attend 
COP-15, but seemed prepared for the Ambassador's non-committal 
response, conditioned on progress in climate negotiations and the 
progress of U.S. legislation. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Action Request:  Hedegaard said she would visit 
Washington in mid-September and asked for suggestions on how she 
might best promote a successful outcome at COP-15 in Copenhagen in 
December.  Please advise if the Department wishes to take up 
Hedegaard's offer to consider suggestions for useful engagement or 
public messages during her upcoming U.S. visit. 
 
FULTON