VZCZCXRO1238
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPB RUEHPW
RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKA #1096/01 3430857
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 090857Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9746
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0084
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR USAID, SCA/INS, S/SECC, EEB, OES 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2014 
TAGS: EAID ECON EAGR SENV SMIG TPHY BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH HAS HIGH HOPES FOR COPENHAGEN 
 
REF: DHAKA 942 DHAKA 350 E-MAIL FROM USUN ON DECEMBER 6 
 
Classified By: ADCM Jon Danilowicz. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. 
 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a large 
Bangladeshi delegation with high hopes for a meaningful 
agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. 
As leader of a 49-member bloc of least-developed countries, 
Bangladesh continues to press for ambitious mitigation, 
adaptation and financing commitments from developed countries 
with preferential treatment of vulnerable least-developed 
countries.  At the same time, GOB leaders have signaled a 
willingness to press fast-growing developing countries to 
reduce emissions and seek pragmatic solutions on other key 
issues under negotiation. 
 
¶3. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests the Department propose a 
POTUS meeting with Prime Minister Hasina on the sidelines of 
Copenhagen to encourage Bangladesh to play a constructive 
role in climate change negotiations.  A meeting could also 
serve to underscore U.S. support for adaptation and 
mitigation programs in vulnerable developing countries. 
 
A LEADING VOICE FOR VULNERABLE COUNTRIES 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Prime Minister Hasina will lead a Bangladeshi 
delegation of over 80 persons in Copenhagen, after attending 
a series of ministerial-level climate change meetings leading 
up to Copenhagen.  The Prime Minister's engagement and the 
country's large delegation reflect the high importance the 
Government of Bangladesh (GOB) places on climate change 
negotiations.  Facing a triple-threat of melting Himalayan 
glaciers, rising sea levels and stronger, more frequent 
typhoons, Bangladeshi officials continue to underscore the 
moral responsibility of developed countries for addressing 
climate change.  The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate 
Change estimated that 22 million Bangladeshis may be 
displaced by rising sea levels and changing climate patterns 
by 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed. As one of 
the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change 
and leader of a bloc of 49 least developed countries (LDCs), 
Bangladesh will be a leading voice for vulnerable developing 
countries in Copenhagen.  In a December 6 phone call with 
USUN Ambassador Rice, the Prime Minister noted rising 
expectations for Copenhagen and pledged to exert every effort 
for a positive outcome. (Ref C) 
 
ADVOCATING AMBITIOUS LDC PROPOSALS 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) A Ministry of Environment briefing paper for the Prime 
Minister,s participation in COP reaffirms GOB support for 
ambitious targets for emissions reduction in developed 
countries (45 percent below 1990 levels by 2020); average 
temperature increase (below 2 degrees Centigrade) and carbon 
dioxide concentrations (350 parts per million).  The paper 
calls for exemption of LDCs from binding mitigation 
commitments and from patent protections for climate related 
technologies. (NOTE: Post e-mailed this briefing paper to 
SCA/INSB. END NOTE.) 
 
¶6. (C) In several climate change meetings this year, the 
Prime Minister called for enhanced financial commitments from 
developed countries to support adaptation and mitigation 
programs in vulnerable LDCs.  The Ministry of Environment 
briefing paper underscores that financing provisions will be 
a top GOB priority in Copenhagen.  It calls for an adaptation 
fund under the COP framework with $2 billion, or 70 percent, 
allocated annually to LDCs. 
 
SIGNS OF PRAGMATISM 
------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) At the same time, the GOB has signaled its interest 
in pressing fast-developing countries to commit to meaningful 
mitigation efforts and seeking common ground on other 
contentious issues.  Echoing earlier remarks to the 
Ambassador (ref A), State Minister for Environment and 
Forestry Hasan Mahmud told the Acting DCM that Bangladesh 
would argue in Copenhagen that fast-growing developing 
countries need to share responsibility for addressing climate 
change.  While reaffirming support for ambitious mitigation 
 
DHAKA 00001096  002 OF 002 
 
 
targets, the MOEF briefing paper suggests some flexibility on 
atmospheric concentration goals, mitigation commitments and 
interim emission reduction targets.  Though critical of 
current mitigation proposals for from developed and 
fast-developing countries, the paper vaguely advises, "we 
should continue to negotiate until an acceptable emission 
reduction target is achieved". 
 
BANGLADESH'S RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Bangladeshi leaders have emphasized they are committed 
to participating in mitigation efforts and pursuing a 
low-carbon growth strategy.  In November, Foreign Minister 
Dipu Moni told Ambassador-at-large for Women,s Issues 
Melanne Verveer that Bangladesh was committed to going 
"carbon neutral".  Minister of Environment Mahmud echoed this 
pledge when he assured the Acting DCM that Bangladesh was 
serious about cutting emissions. 
 
¶9.  (U) In November, Minister Mahmud announced the government 
had finalized its policy for managing its $150 million 
Climate Change Trust Fund.  Under the policy, a ten-person 
board will approve funding of projects to implement 
Bangladesh's Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 
(accessible at www.moef.gov.bd). To pursue a 
"climate-resilient, pro-poor and low-carbon development 
strategy", the action plan prescribes activities in food 
security, disaster management, infrastructure development, 
research, mitigation and institutional capacity building. 
Under the Integrated Protected Area Co-Management (IPAC) 
Project, USAID is training Bangladeshi officials to prepare 
forestry projects to access global carbon markets. 
 
COMMENT: 
------- 
 
¶10. (C) As one of the most vulnerable countries to climate 
change, Bangladesh has a strong interest in facilitating a 
positive outcome in Copenhagen.  A POTUS meeting with Prime 
Minister Hasina would encourage Bangladesh to continue its 
constructive role in global discussions of the way forward on 
climate change.  It would also underscore U.S. solidarity for 
vulnerable countries and solidify our ties to this moderate, 
Muslim-majority country of 150 million people.  U.S. 
engagement with Environment Minister Mahmud, an environmental 
scientist and close advisor to the Prime Minister, would also 
help encourage the Bangladeshis to play a positive role in 
Copenhagen. 
MORIARTY