Cablegate: Action Request: A Multilateral Climate Center in Indonesia

VZCZCXRO0868
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #0126 0290055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290055Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4385
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000126

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP A/S CAMPELL, S/ECC, G, EAP/MTS, AND OES/EGC
USAID FOR A/A MARGOT ELLIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID KGHG SENV PREL ID
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: A MULTILATERAL CLIMATE CENTER IN INDONESIA

1. (SBU) Action Request: Post requests Washington concurrence to
discuss with foreign missions resident in Jakarta and the GOI the
possibility of multilateral participation in the proposed Jakarta
component of the Asian Regional Center for Climate Change
initiative. The scheduled February 20-23 assessment visit could
further explore how participation of other donor countries in the
Jakarta ARC component could help multiply the impact that the center
could bring to turning science into solutions for the whole range of
mitigation and adaptation challenges. If GOI and other partners
agree to the Center concept in following weeks, the President could
announce this new initiative during his upcoming visit.

2. (SBU) On January 28, DCM Ted Osius discussed post-Copenhagen
engagement with ambassadors and deputy ambassadors from resident
missions of Australia, the EU, UK, the Netherlands and Norway, a
group originally formed by Ambassador Hume in October 2009. These
mission representatives noted that their countries had climate funds
for Indonesia, but lacked functional and coordinated mechanisms
through which to spend those funds effectively. Activities to date
had been uncoordinated, isolated and disparate. The solution, they
agreed, would be a key group of supporting nations to jointly
approach the GOI to work out coordinated arrangements of support for
climate mitigation and adaptation actions.

3. (SBU) This group is planning a follow on meeting with GOI to
discuss coordination on climate change financing, on the ground
projects and political engagement with the world. They reported
that the GOI sees the UNEP meeting in Bali this February 22 as a way
to repair the trust lost in Copenhagen and to advance COP 16 in
Mexico. Post also notes that on January 25, Agung Laksono,
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Vice Chair of
Indonesia's National Climate Change Council, and Climate Negotiator
Rachmat Witoelar stated to the press on that Indonesia is working on
establishing a climate center for Asia in Jakarta. It appears that
the desires of the GOI, major foreign donor nations, and the ARC
concept are compatible and could form a strong regional climate
change deliverable for POTUS to announce.

HUME

© Scoop Media