VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBS #1172/01 2371005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251005Z AUG 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON

UNCLAS USEU BRUSSELS 001172 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY TRGY TSPL
SUBJECT: COMMISSION PERSPECTIVES ON UNFCCC, MEF, AND TROIKA VISIT TO 
WASHINGTON 
 
1.(SBU) This is a corrected version of BRUSSELS 1165 to correct for 
formatting. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY.  Artur Runge-Metzger, Head of Unit for 
International Climate Negotiations in the European Commission's 
Directorate General for Environment, said that emissions targets for 
developed and developing countries, including discussions of 
comparability, and financing will be the key topics during the 
European Union's "Troika" visit to Washington on August 24-25. 
Separately, Runge-Metzger feels there is a greater sense of urgency 
in the UN climate negotiations, but that developing countries remain 
reluctant to engage.  The Major Economies Forum (MEF), he explained, 
is an ideal setting to break through some of these differences.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, representing 
the Presidency of the EU; Spanish State Secretary for Environment 
Teresa Ribera Rodriguez, representing the next Presidency of the EU; 
and Jos Delbeke, Deputy Director General for Environment in the 
European Commission, will travel to Washington on August 24-25 to 
meet with key U.S. policy-makers on climate change, including SECC 
Todd Stern and Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman. 
Runge-Metzger, speaking on behalf of Delbeke and the Commission, 
said to USEU EconOff that there will be five key topics for coverage 
during the Troika: 
 
     -- What is achievable in Copenhagen, especially noting the late 
date? 
     -- How can success be orchestrated in Copenhagen, taking into 
account the various forums, such as the MEF, G-20, and the Greenland 
Dialogue? 
     -- How can the 2 degree C limit in temperature rise be 
addressed, focusing on various pathways to get there, particularly 
among developed countries?  This includes discussions of 
comparability of emissions targets among developed countries. 
     -- What should contributions be from developing countries, 
noting the backlash on the 2 degree commitment in the July MEF from 
several countries, notably India? 
     -- Financing.  This remains a fairly fluid topic in the EU, and 
there remain divisions among Member States.  Runge-Metzger also 
mentioned that he views differences between the U.S. and EU 
positions on the scale of contributions.  For timing in the EU, the 
Commission will release a financing proposal in early to 
mid-September, in advance of the G-20.  The European Council plans 
to have conclusions regarding the proposal agreed by mid-October. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The dynamics of the Troika will be fairly relaxed, 
according to Runge-Metzger.  Carlgren will likely start the 
conversation, but in small settings, both Ribera Rodriguez and 
Delbeke will be very engaged in the conversation, particularly in 
situations where the Commission has the competence (such as on 
carbon markets).  (Note.  This supports the notion of collaboration 
and teamwork between Sweden, Spain, and the Commission as 
demonstrated during the Energy and Environment Ministers meeting in 
Are, Sweden at the end of July.  End note.) 
 
¶5. (SBU) Turning to the UN negotiating session that took place in 
Bonn from August 10-14, Runge-Metzger said he feels that the sense 
of urgency is increasing, but that developing countries still do not 
appear to be prepared to engage.  He noted specifically what he 
feels are destructive elements among the G-77, specifically Algeria, 
Bolivia, Egypt, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Venezuela. 
 
 He sees this trend continuing during the Bangkok negotiating 
session in September-October.  Fo he said that 
Russia aul, and that even New Zts pathway is taken int. (SBU) Runge-Metzger arg@l a large gap in 
emissioeveloped countries, whichHe expressed that what  amount of 
future CO2 `tes only to approximate among the group of develo0 levels. 
He mentioned t`ress: 
 
     -- Is it @@@cp  d`   ational offsets. 
 
¶7. (Q that no real ideas have Qng countries, with the eto a certain 
extent,es at all from China, Qneeds to be pushed in Qs need 
to become clear% and this issue should beika. 
 
¶8. (SBU) AccouQontentious issue, 
Ruge-Metzger added, and the EU is looking for mor% insight into 
U.S. thinking on how to handle Land Use, Land Use Change, and 
Forestry (LULUCF, both for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in 
Developing Countries (REDD) and for domestic land use change 
accounting.  Kyoto provided a temporary solution, but a permanent 
framework needs to be addressed. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Finally, the Commission is looking forward to the September 
MEF to be held in Washington, Runge-Metzger said.  The Commission is 
also supportive of the concept of a MEF Leader's meeting in 
November, as the timing after all of the negotiating sessions and 
directly ahead of Copenhagen could be ideal for a last push to move 
things forward. 
 
MURRAY