Cablegate: Cote D'ivoire Demarched On Climate Change

VZCZCXRO6913
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0596 1571048
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061048Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3066
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000596

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

OES/EGC FOR ED FENDLEY AND DREW NELSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG ECON IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE DEMARCHED ON CLIMATE CHANGE
INITIATIVE

REF: SECSTATE 75287

1. (U) Emboff demarched MFA Director of International
Organizations and United Nations Affairs Ambassador Tanoh
Boutchoue on June 3 using reftel talking points. The MFA
will report back any official GOCI reaction.

2. (SBU) Speaking informally, Boutchoue warmly welcomed the
President's initiative. Asserting that global climate change
affects Africa negatively, the Ambassador pointed to changed
weather patterns in Cote d'Ivoire and the prospect of further
political ramifications on the continent due to shifting
rainfall and resulting grazing and agricultural dislocations.
Boutchoue was particularly animated at the potential for
Cote d'Ivoire to become a biofuels producer and exporter,
given its abundant capacity to produce sugarcane for ethanol
and palm oils for biodiesel.
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