VZCZCXRO3150
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDF RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHBS #1231/01 2540836
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110836Z SEP 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001231 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY TRGY TSPL
SUBJECT: EXPECT NEGATIVE RHETORIC ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO CONTINUE FROM 
EU MEMBER STATES 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Despite efforts to stem unhelpful comments, we 
can expect certain EU Member States will continue to call for the 
United States to "do more" on climate change in the run-up to 
Copenhagen.  Recent statements targeting the United States, notably 
from the Swedish Presidency, Germany, and France, among others, are 
driven by several factors, including domestic posturing, efforts to 
place blame in case of Copenhagen failure, and "buyer's remorse" 
stemming from the climate and energy legislative package passed last 
December.  There is a lack of comprehension how such comments can be 
considered counterproductive, especially as political changes in 
Australia and Japan have yielded stronger emissions targets, 
situations in which the EU is quick to claim some of the credit. 
End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During a meeting with an advisor to Commission President 
Barroso, USEU EconOffs learned that EU Member State focus on the 
United States and mid-term emissions targets will likely continue, 
and with that, continued negative rhetoric and pressure for the 
United States to "do more."  Nevertheless, he agreed that such 
comments are counterproductive to efforts to come to agreement in 
Copenhagen.  However, citing domestic considerations such as the 
upcoming elections in Germany and pressure from the Greens and 
industry, he said it will be very difficult to sway certain 
politicians.  Additionally, several Member States are suffering 
"buyer's remorse" following the passage of the climate and energy 
legislative package.  They want the United States to pass a 
similarly ambitious bill. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Aside from domestic political realities, there is a lack of 
comprehension in Europe as to why such comments are 
counterproductive.  In a meeting with the UK Permanent 
Representation, both Australia and Japan, who recently increased 
their midterm emissions goals after political changes, were cited as 
successful examples of European pressure.  From the EU viewpoint, it 
follows logically that the same pressure will yield positive results 
in the United States.  Arguments that negative comments simply allow 
China and India to stand back while the United States and the EU 
continue to disagree are met with opposition; several EU 
counterparts contend that if the United States were to do more, then 
China and India would follow.  Officials at the Swedish Permanent 
Representation said that the rest of the world is watching the 
United States, so EU pressure should remain focused on U.S. efforts. 
 However, a British diplomat remarked that the U.S. should be 
flattered by the attention and its ability to drive the process. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Separately, Barroso's advisor and British officials 
discussed the Commission proposal to the Council and Parliament on 
climate finance.  Barroso's advisor pointed out that the document 
included "toughening" of the language regarding conditionality in EU 
funding.  The EU is looking to strengthen its position that any 
funding from the EU will require actions from developing countries 
towards agreed climate goals.  Additionally, while the proposal 
presented a likely order of magnitude of global funding needed, 100 
billion euros per year in 2020, that level is dependent on ambitious 
targets from both developed and developing countries.  Accepting 
weaker targets will cost more in the long run, increasing financial 
requirements.  While the British officials said that the Pittsburgh 
Summit is very important in terms of timing, Barroso's advisor tried 
to temper expectations, noting that France and Germany, and to a 
lesser extent, Poland, are likely to slow the internal EU process 
into October, making it difficult for the EU to bring much to 
Pittsburgh in September.  Reportedly, several Member States want to 
announce their own financial targets, independent of EU funding, and 
believe that those will have more impact if made ahead of an EU 
announcement.  There has been limited immediate reaction from Member 
States to the proposal, though Barroso's advisor explained that the 
proposal was written with viewpoints of several large Member States 
in mind, with the hope that it will be more likely accepted in 
comparable form by Heads of State at the October European Council. 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment.  While meetings with Member State officials in 
Brussels have shown that there is little interest among some Member 
States in changing the rhetoric towards the United States, the 
Commission appears to have shifted to a more conciliatory tone.  Led 
by President Barroso, who seems to be taking a much stronger 
position on climate and energy, the Commission has worked to keep 
comments strictly on a bilateral level and out of public forums. 
Barroso's advisor stressed the importance of the MEF to "grind the 
process forward" to complement the work in the UNFCCC.  In that 
regard, the Commission appears interested in acting as a key U.S. 
interlocutor, one which will focus on the need to pull in China and 
 
BRUSSELS 00001231  002 OF 002 
 
 
India.  According to a well-placed industry representative, the 
Commission and/or the UK may be best placed to drive the 
conversation in Europe, given better understanding of the U.S. 
domestic realities.  The Commission can complement our diplomatic 
efforts in capitals with its influence with Member States.  End 
comment. 
 
MURRAY