VZCZCXRO7906
RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHHO RUEHNG RUEHRS
DE RUEHSG #0162/01 0361853
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051850Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0726
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000162 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ENRG SENV PGOV KGHG CI
SUBJECT: CHILE ASSOCIATES WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORD; WILL CONSULT WITH 
INCOMING CHILEAN ADMINISTRATION ON NEXT STEPS 
 
REF: STATE 3080; 09 SANTIAGO 1180 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Chile associated with the Copenhagen accord 
before January 31.  However, it chose not to formalize its 
voluntary commitment, previously announced by the Chilean Minister 
of Environment in Copenhagen, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 
percent below "business as usual" (BAU) by 2020.  Chile is unlikely 
to consider inscribing to any mitigation commitments until after 
the new administration takes office in March 2010.  End summary. 
 
Chile Associates on January 29, 2010 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.  (U) Chile associated to the Copenhagen Accord in a letter from 
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Angel Flisfisch to the Executive 
Secretary of the UNFCCC Secretariat on January 29.  The letter 
confirmed Chile's intent to associate with the Copenhagen Accord 
and be listed as an associating country in the COP-15 final report. 
Flisfisch also expressed the country's hope that the accord would 
facilitate a process that will culminate in a binding international 
agreement on climate change. 
 
Chile Still Considering Voluntary Emissions Target 
--------------------------------------------- ------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) However, Chile did not make any commitments on voluntary 
reductions in its greenhouse gas emissions.  Minister of 
Environment Ana Lya Uriarte, head of the Chilean delegation to the 
COP-15 in Copenhagen, had announced during December's climate 
conference that Chile would voluntarily reduce its greenhouse gas 
emissions 20 percent below "business as usual" (BAU) by 2020 in the 
electricity, mining, transport, and other energy-intensive 
industrial sectors.  Echoing what she told the Ambassador prior to 
Copenhagen (ref b), Uriarte claimed Chile's goal would be achieved 
using domestic resources. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In January, Waldemar Coutts, Deputy Director of the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Environmental Directorate (MFA/DIMA), 
and Alvaro Sapag, Executive Director of Chile's National 
Environmental Commission (CONAMA), acknowledged an internal GOC 
debate on the baseline year to calculate BAU.  Coutts intimated 
that the Ministries of Energy and Finance preferred to be cautious 
about committing the country to a target. 
 
Chile Meets Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change -Wants to Be 
"Part of the Solution" 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U) On January 20, Jonathan Pershing, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy 
for Climate Change met with Coutts and Sapag; Mauricio Hurtado, 
Head of Department of Environmental Affairs at Chile's Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, Raul Campusano, Director of International 
Relations, CONAMA and Rodrigo Meza, Economic officer from the 
Embassy of Chile also attended.  U.S. Embassy Santiago ESTHoff and 
representatives from OES/ENV and WHA/EPSC were also present. 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Coutts, who took the Chilean lead at the meeting, called 
the meetings in Copenhagen "confusing" and expressed real doubts 
about getting to a legally binding agreement by the time of the 
Mexico meeting (late 2010).  He was particularly concerned that 
there was no program of work or specific follow-up meetings 
scheduled, and noted that messages inviting Chile to associate were 
not very clear on either dates or expectations.  He repeated 
several times that, despite these concerns, "Chile wants to be part 
of the solution."  He said the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and 
Environment had both recommended that Chile associate with the 
Copenhagen Accord before January 31, but there might be delays 
while the GOC worked out issues within its interagency and with its 
new administration. 
 
 
 
Ambassador Calls Key Ministries to Confirm Commitment 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 
----- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) On January 28, Ambassador called Acting Minister of 
Environment Alvaro Sapag and Minister of Energy Marcelo Tokman. 
 
SANTIAGO 00000162  002 OF 002 
 
 
Sapag indicated that Chile would associate before the January 31 
deadline, but acknowledged reservations on the part of some 
government agencies.  Minister Tokman told the Ambassador that he 
found the mitigation requirements language "confusing" and said he 
wanted to consult with the incoming government.  [Note: 
President-elect Sebastian Pinera will be inaugurated on March 11. 
End note.]  Both officials stated that Chile would associate with 
the Copenhagen Accord, but the government could not commit to any 
mitigation actions at this time. 
URBAN