VZCZCXRO6899
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2189/01 3372001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032001Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7664
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2439
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002189 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR USEPA 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: EPET ECON EINV ENRG EAID PGOV NI
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DEMARCHES MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT ON US 
POSITIONS FOR COPENHAGEN 
 
REF: E-MAIL MESSAGE FROM DSECC PERSHING, 11/25/2009 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Ambassador encouraged the Government of Nigeria 
(GON) on December 3 to support the Danish Plan for a "politically 
binding" operational agreement at the upcoming climate change 
negotiations in Copenhagen and highlighted the figures on U.S. 
emission reductions per reftel.  Minister of Environment John Odey 
expressed Nigeria's pleasure with President Obama's announcement to 
participate in the Copenhagen conference and said this is a 
significant and encouraging step.  He said Vice President Goodluck 
Jonathan is scheduled to represent Nigeria at the head-of-state 
level during the December 12-16 period of the conference.  He added 
that Africa wants to see the Kyoto Protocol renewed when it expires 
in 2012.  Africa wants to see real emissions reduction commitments 
and assistance figures by the developed world.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Sanders, using points provided by the 
Department, demarched Minister of Environment John Odey on recent 
developments on U.S. positions for Copenhagen on December 3.  ESTH 
Officer attended as note taker.  The Ambassador said the Danish Plan 
for a "politically binding" agreement is the best available option 
and encouraged the GON to support the plan.  Odey acknowledged 
seeing the Danish Plan but was non-committal.  He expressed 
Nigeria's pleasure with President Obama's announcement of 
participation in the Copenhagen conference on December 9 and said 
the President's participation is a significant and encouraging step 
for all. 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Odey said Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to 
represent Nigeria at the head-of-state level, beginning on December 
¶16.  He wondered whether it would be appropriate for President Obama 
to address technical negotiators on December 9.  He added that 
Nigeria is reaching out to the United Nation Secretariat on how to 
handle its participation vis-`-vis President Obama's expected 
attendance on December 9.  Odey said the Nigerian delegation will be 
composed of representatives of the public and private sectors and 
civil society.  (COMMENT:  Odey's Special Assistant told ESTH 
Officer that Nigeria will send around 300 hundred people of which 25 
will be from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.  End 
COMMENT). 
 
¶4. (SBU) Odey reported that Nigeria's positions for Copenhagen are 
integrated into the African position.  The Ambassador asked what 
Nigeria's expectations are for Copenhagen.  He responded that Africa 
wants to see real emissions reduction commitments and assistance 
figures by the developed world. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The measure of success at Copenhagen is whether aggregate 
emissions reduction figures and financial and technological 
assistance commitments are commensurate enough to address the 
problem, according to Odey.  The Ambassador responded that the U.S. 
has put figures on the table (17 percent below the 2005 level in 
2020, which is in line with U.S. energy and climate legislation) and 
supports strengthening developing countries' adaptation and 
mitigation capabilities.  She said this has to be augmented by 
commitments from other countries.  She added that all countries 
should leverage their own resources by budgeting for adaptation and 
mitigation efforts and stressed that Nigeria needs to develop its 
own plan connected to resources.  (NOTE:  Odey's Special Assistant 
told ESTH officer that Nigeria - and other African countries - are 
reluctant to publicly push China and India to commit to significant 
Qreluctant to publicly push China and India to commit to significant 
greenhouse emission reductions because of pressure from those 
countries.  END NOTE). 
 
¶6. (SBU) Odey added that Nigeria has put together a draft National 
Adaptation and Mitigation Plan, which includes a mechanism for 
implementing the Gas Master Plan.  (NOTE:  The Gas Master Plan aims 
to convert flared gas into electric power as well as for use in home 
cooking.  END NOTE).  He said implementing the Master Gas Plan is 
critical for Nigeria to curbing flared gas in the Niger Delta and 
boosting electricity supply in the country.  He said that Nigeria 
will be looking for support from U.S. businesses to implement the 
plan.  The Ambassador said that the GON had to also do more to 
commit to implementing the plan, including with resources.  The 
Ambassador asked for the copy of the draft National Adaptation and 
Mitigation Plan and said it is advisable for the plan to be 
investment-friendly to attract businesses.  The Ambassador 
summarized USG assistance to the GON on climate change-related 
capacity-building efforts so far and expressed the U.S. desire for 
continued engagement in the future. 
 
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COMMENT 
 
ABUJA 00002189  002 OF 002 
 
 
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¶7.  (SBU) The Mission believes that Nigeria's interest in 
implementing its Gas Master Plan to address the twin challenges of 
gas flaring and electricity shortage might ultimately persuade the 
GON to support a practical solution at Copenhagen.   The Gas Mater 
Plan will not succeed without private sector involvement, and the 
Minister believes that private sector involvement will be crucial to 
realizing the specific benefits of a Copenhagen agreement, such as 
carbon credits.  However, Nigeria needs to show greater political 
will and commit more of its own resources in partnership with the 
private sector in order to make this happen. 
 
SANDERS