INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: U/S Dobriansky Meets with Polish Ministers Of

Published: Tue 29 Apr 2008 12:09 PM
VZCZCXRO0647
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHWR #0532/01 1201209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291209Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6381
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2766
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0486
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 2077
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 000532
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP SENV ECON ENRG PREL PL
SUBJECT: U/S DOBRIANSKY MEETS WITH POLISH MINISTERS OF
ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY
WARSAW 00000532 001.2 OF 002
1. This cable contains a guidance request. See para. 8.
2. (SBU) On April 14, Under Secretary of State Paula
Dobriansky met with Polish Minister of Environment Maciej
Nowicki and Minister of Economy Waldemar Pawlak to discuss
the upcoming United Nations Framework on Climate Change's
fourteenth Conference of the Parties (COP-14). COP-14 will
be held in Poznan December 1-12. In both meetings,
Dobriansky stressed that a comprehensive agreement on climate
change must contain binding agreements for both developing
and developed countries. Environment Minister Nowicki stated
that a planning conference for COP-14 will be held in Warsaw
in October, and he may visit the United States in September.
He believes COP-14 needs to develop concrete steps to adress
climate change, and to showcase specific examples of
technology transfer. Economy Minister Pawlak stated he wants
to organize a meeting of about 30 ministers of economy before
COP-14 to discuss the "sectoral approach" to climate change.
Dobrianksy welcomed Pawlak's interest in exploring the
sectoral approach before Poznan, and committed to provide a
readout of her discussions in Paris. U/S Dobriansky was
joined on her visit by Dean Pittman of the Secretary's Policy
Planning Staff and Dan Rochberg, Special Assistant to U/S
Dobriansky.
End summary.
------------------------------
Environment Ministry on COP-14
------------------------------
3. (SBU) The discussion at the Ministry of Environment
began with Dobriansky asking Minister Nowicki how he
envisions COP-14. Nowicki responded that he sees a change in
attitudes about climate change since the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its last report in
March 2007. He said there is no longer any doubt that
climate change is due to human activity. The only question
is to what extent human activity is responsible. He added
that the United States seems to be modifying its attitude
toward climate change and acknowledging the role of human
activity. Consequently, Nowicki believes COP-14 will take
place at an opportune time to consider climate change
programs. Nowicki stated future discussions must look at
highly specific steps if they are to be effective in dealing
with climate change. He criticized what he termed the
"European strategy" of signing general agreements, claiming
that results so far were "nothing more than paper." He
described his goal for COP-14 as including side exhibits of
concrete examples of technology development and transfer.
Nowicki announced that a preliminary conference to prepare
for COP-14 will be held October 12-14, most likely at the
Warsaw Sheraton. He said he would invite thirty-five to
forty officials from countries that were critically important
in climate change issues, including the United States.
4. (SBU) Dobriansky commented that the key decision of the
UN climate conference in Bali last December was that actions
on climate change should be measurable, verifiable, and
reportable. The United States wants a framework that is
truly global, and would agree to binding commitments only if
other major economies do as well. Minister Nowicki agreed,
noting that within the next ten years, eighty percent of the
increase in carbon dioxide emissions would come from China
and other developing countries, and to exempt these countries
would make climate change actions by the developed countries
ineffective.
5. (SBU) Dobriansky asked whether Nowicki would visit the
United States before COP-14. He responded that he would be
very interested in coming to Washington, probably in
September, and participating in a round table discussion of
Poland's approach to climate change. Dobriansky encouraged
him to go to the United States for this discussion, and to
visit sites where he could observe exhibits of environmental
technology.
--------------------------------------------- -------------
Economy Ministry Seeks Meeting Regarding Sectoral Approach
--------------------------------------------- -------------
6. (SBU) At the Ministry of Economy, Pawlak stated that,
WARSAW 00000532 002.2 OF 002
prior to COP-14, Poland would like to hold a meeting of
Ministers of Economy from about 30 major economies -- both
developed and developing -- aimed at exploring the "sectoral
approach" to climate change. Pawlak particularly emphasized
the importance of involving international corporations and
representatives of internationalized industries -- such as
steel or cement -- in such a discussion. The meeting would
address the problem of applying national regulatory policies
to international businesses. Pawlak stated he had already
raised this idea with the OECD and the President of the
International Atomic Energy Association, as well as EU
Commissioner Verheugen. U.S. suggestions and participation
would be essential, Pawlak stated. Marcin Korolec, Under
Secretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Economy, is
SIPDIS
working on a proposed text addressing the question of how to
allocate emissions allowances, especially outside the energy
sector. He stated that the EU is trying to find an approach
in which allowances are more closely linked to the net needs
of a given industry, but this requires a global perspective.
Pawlak noted that there will be an EU working group meeting
in Bonn in June, where Poland plans to advance its proposal.
7. (SBU) Dobriansky welcomed Pawlak's interest in exploring
the sectoral approach and the idea of holding a meeting
before COP-14, noting that the USG -- especially through the
Departments of Commerce, Energy and Treasury, with the
Environmental Protection Agency -- is committed to engaging
with business. Responding to Pawlak's request, Dobriansky
offered to provide USG views on how such an effort might be
organized. Dobriansky stated that the COP-14 is a bridge to
the later meeting in Copenhagen, which should culminate in an
international agreement on climate change. The U.S. will
make a substantial commitment, but she stressed consensus
across the U.S. political spectrum that a comprehensive
agreement must contain measurable, verifiable and reportable
commitments for both developed and developing countries.
Obligations would be common but differentiated. Financing
mechanisms and technology transfer should be priorities at
COP-14. She specified the issue goes beyond simply setting
up a fund, to looking holistically at economic reforms,
energy security and other topics. She noted that on April 16
she would be in Paris, where the USG will be seeking ways to
help the UN Framework Process, including long-term goals,
short-term goals, technology, practical financing and how to
measure progress. Dobriansky committed to provide the Polish
government with a readout of the Paris discussions.
Dobriansky also noted that the U.S. will table a text at the
G-8 summit in Japan. She also said she would suggest
colleagues working on sectoral issues consider visiting
Warsaw, and offered help to set up meetings for Pawlak's
upcoming visit to Washington.
----------------
Guidance Request
----------------
8. (U) Post requests a readout of the Paris meetings to
pass to Polish officials, as discussed in U/S Dobriansky's
meeting with the Minister of Economy Pawlak.
9. (U) This cable was cleared by U/S Dobriansky.
ASHE
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media