VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHPE #1934 3442147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 102147Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0238
INFO RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
UNCLAS LIMA 001934
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/EPSC - FRANCES COLON
ALSO FOR OES/EGC - DREW NELSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG ETRD TSPL KGHG PE
SUBJECT: PERU PROPOSING 47 PERCENT REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS AND
REQUESTS ASSISTANCE IN PRESERVING AMAZON
REF: A.) WHA/EPSC COLON 11/27 EMAIL; B.) 2009 LIMA 537
1. (SBU) The Ambassador delivered reftel A points to Minister of
Environment Antonio BRACK Egg, who will lead the Peru delegation to
Copenhagen (COP 15). Brack already seemed to be familiar with the
USG position, and was supportive.
2. (SBU) Brack informed the Ambassador that Peru will propose
reducing its emissions by 47 percent. Peru would accomplish this
by placing a moratorium on deforestation in the Amazon (which takes
up over half of Peru and is likely the most pristine remaining part
of the Amazon).
3. (SBU) The Minister affirmed that Peru is "working hard" to
preserve forests, noting advances Peru has made to ready some
portions of the forest for eligibility under the U.N. Program on
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in
Developing Countries (or REDD). He calculated that if Peru could
reduce deforestation from 550,000 hectares per year (the current
deforestation rate) to zero hectares, the proposed 47 percent drop
in greenhouse gas emissions would result.
4. (SBU) Brack asked for assistance in arranging a high level
meeting with USG officials in Copenhagen. He will be available
from December 16 through the morning of December 19.
5. (SBU) COMMMENT: Such a meeting would serve U.S. interests,
given that much of the action post-Copenhagen in South America will
be concentrated on rainforest conservation/mitigation. As we
explained reftel B, Peru represents a number of opportunities to
support the President's agenda. We look forward to following up
after Copenhagen.
6. (SBU) BIO NOTE: Minister Brack is Peru's first environment
minister, a ministry created as a direct result of the negotiations
on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, which entered into
force February 1, 2009 and includes far-reaching environmental
commitments new to the trade promotion agenda. Moreover, Brack is
widely regarded as Peru's most prominent environmentalist figure.
MCKINLEY