Cablegate: French Environment Negotiator Understands Us Engagement In

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INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
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RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PARIS 002146

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG EU FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH ENVIRONMENT NEGOTIATOR UNDERSTANDS US ENGAGEMENT IN
DECEMBER NEGOTIATIONS

REF: A) State 119282
B) State 99217

1. (SBU) Summary: French climate negotiator Brice Lalonde told EMIN
that he understands that the new administration will need time to
organize and he looks forward to working with Under Secretary
Dobriansky in Poznan. EMIN also explained our position on the EU
Renewable Fuels Directive, especially biofuels. End summary.

2. (SBU) On November 21, Brice Lalonde, the French principal climate
negotiator, told EMIN and ESTH Counselor that he understands the
background conveyed in REF A. Lalonde suggested that the new
administration use new words, such as those used in the
president-elect's comments to the bipartisan governors' conference,
to create an atmosphere in which the other nations would be more
willing to make concessions. Lalonde said that Poznan will be most
important for laying out a work agenda leading to the Copenhagen
conference. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is said to want two or
three heads of state meetings on climate change to provide
authoritative guidance to negotiators. The GOF believes that the
USG should host the final ministerial before Copenhagen. Some are
speculating that the US may want to first pass domestic legislation
before committing to an international agreement. Finally, Lalonde
hopes that the Major Economies Meetings (MEM) will continue to be
convened during the year. Lalonde asserted that "China is key" to a
Copenhagen protocol, and in an economic downturn, European industry,
already fatigued, will not agree to indirectly subsidize Chinese
industry.

4. (SBU) EMIN closed by explaining the US position on the proposed
EU Renewable Fuels directive, especially the section on the criteria
for biofuels, where trade barriers might be erected against some
kinds of foreign biofuels by using non-scientific criteria. Lalonde
was familiar with OECD work in this area, and hoped that the EU
domestic politics would facilitate a scientifically-based
directive.

Stapleton

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