Cablegate: Spain Seeks to Be Part of Inner Circle On Climate

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2132 3231121
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191121Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3826
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MADRID 002132

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PGI, OES, OES/E, OES/EGC, OES/E/ENV,
OES/OGC,OES/PCI, G:E.WEIGOLD
DOE FOR PIA:S.RUEN, EERE:P.DICKERSON,A.CHIANG,J.OWEN
COMMERCE FOR 3133/ITA/USFCS/OIO/EUR, 4211/ITA/MAC/EUR,
6110/ITA/MAS/ENERGY
PASS PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN SEEKS TO BE PART OF INNER CIRCLE ON CLIMATE
CHANGE, VICE-MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN
RENEWABLE ENERGY MISSION

REF: A. REF: A. MADRID 1823
B. B. MADRID 2064

1. In a Nov. 8 meeting with DCM, GoS Secretary General
(Vice-Minister) of Environment for Prevention of Pollution
and Climate Change Arturo Aizpiri emphasized Spain,s desire
to be part of the inner group of countries focusing on a
solution to global climate change. Aizpiri noted the GoS'
concern that it was not invited to directly participate in
September,s Major Economies Meeting in Washington, despite
having one of the ten largest economies in the world. Spain
thinks it has a lot to contribute to the challenge of global
climate change, both as a major emitter and because of its
innovative renewable energy sector. Aizpiri also pointed out
that Spanish President Zapatero had, along with President
Bush and others, attended U.N. SecGen Ban,s climate change
dinner in New York in September.

2. Aizpiri acknowledged and expressed the GOS,s appreciation
for the seriousness of the USG in efforts to address global
climate change. Aizpiri specifically mentioned the
high-level USG delegation attending the following week,s
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conference in
Valencia. Aizpiri added that the GOS looked forward to
working with the USG and other key players beginning in Bali
to develop a post-2012 framework on emissions.

3. Post had requested the meeting to inform Aizpiri of
Post,s strategy for bilateral cooperation on renewable
energy, including a Spanish government-business mission to
Washington and Colorado planned for mid-February (Ref A).
Aizpiri had spoken with Industry and Commerce Vice-Minister
Mejia about the mission and expressed enthusiasm about
participating. He said he considered the challenge of
addressing global climate change to be linked very closely to
the development of renewable energy. The renewable energy
industry in Spain has experienced rapid growth recently and
Spanish companies have become world leaders, in part because
of GoS incentives for renewable electricity projects (Ref B).
LLORENS

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