Cablegate: Ambassador Demarches Minister of Environment On Us

VZCZCXRO6899
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2189/01 3372001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032001Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7664
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2439
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002189

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR USEPA

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EPET ECON EINV ENRG EAID PGOV NI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DEMARCHES MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT ON US
POSITIONS FOR COPENHAGEN

REF: E-MAIL MESSAGE FROM DSECC PERSHING, 11/25/2009

-------
SUMMARY
-------

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador encouraged the Government of Nigeria
(GON) on December 3 to support the Danish Plan for a "politically
binding" operational agreement at the upcoming climate change
negotiations in Copenhagen and highlighted the figures on U.S.
emission reductions per reftel. Minister of Environment John Odey
expressed Nigeria's pleasure with President Obama's announcement to
participate in the Copenhagen conference and said this is a
significant and encouraging step. He said Vice President Goodluck
Jonathan is scheduled to represent Nigeria at the head-of-state
level during the December 12-16 period of the conference. He added
that Africa wants to see the Kyoto Protocol renewed when it expires
in 2012. Africa wants to see real emissions reduction commitments
and assistance figures by the developed world. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) Ambassador Sanders, using points provided by the
Department, demarched Minister of Environment John Odey on recent
developments on U.S. positions for Copenhagen on December 3. ESTH
Officer attended as note taker. The Ambassador said the Danish Plan
for a "politically binding" agreement is the best available option
and encouraged the GON to support the plan. Odey acknowledged
seeing the Danish Plan but was non-committal. He expressed
Nigeria's pleasure with President Obama's announcement of
participation in the Copenhagen conference on December 9 and said
the President's participation is a significant and encouraging step
for all.

3. (SBU) Odey said Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to
represent Nigeria at the head-of-state level, beginning on December
16. He wondered whether it would be appropriate for President Obama
to address technical negotiators on December 9. He added that
Nigeria is reaching out to the United Nation Secretariat on how to
handle its participation vis-`-vis President Obama's expected
attendance on December 9. Odey said the Nigerian delegation will be
composed of representatives of the public and private sectors and
civil society. (COMMENT: Odey's Special Assistant told ESTH
Officer that Nigeria will send around 300 hundred people of which 25
will be from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. End
COMMENT).

4. (SBU) Odey reported that Nigeria's positions for Copenhagen are
integrated into the African position. The Ambassador asked what
Nigeria's expectations are for Copenhagen. He responded that Africa
wants to see real emissions reduction commitments and assistance
figures by the developed world.

5. (SBU) The measure of success at Copenhagen is whether aggregate
emissions reduction figures and financial and technological
assistance commitments are commensurate enough to address the
problem, according to Odey. The Ambassador responded that the U.S.
has put figures on the table (17 percent below the 2005 level in
2020, which is in line with U.S. energy and climate legislation) and
supports strengthening developing countries' adaptation and
mitigation capabilities. She said this has to be augmented by
commitments from other countries. She added that all countries
should leverage their own resources by budgeting for adaptation and
mitigation efforts and stressed that Nigeria needs to develop its
own plan connected to resources. (NOTE: Odey's Special Assistant
told ESTH officer that Nigeria - and other African countries - are
reluctant to publicly push China and India to commit to significant
Qreluctant to publicly push China and India to commit to significant
greenhouse emission reductions because of pressure from those
countries. END NOTE).

6. (SBU) Odey added that Nigeria has put together a draft National
Adaptation and Mitigation Plan, which includes a mechanism for
implementing the Gas Master Plan. (NOTE: The Gas Master Plan aims
to convert flared gas into electric power as well as for use in home
cooking. END NOTE). He said implementing the Master Gas Plan is
critical for Nigeria to curbing flared gas in the Niger Delta and
boosting electricity supply in the country. He said that Nigeria
will be looking for support from U.S. businesses to implement the
plan. The Ambassador said that the GON had to also do more to
commit to implementing the plan, including with resources. The
Ambassador asked for the copy of the draft National Adaptation and
Mitigation Plan and said it is advisable for the plan to be
investment-friendly to attract businesses. The Ambassador
summarized USG assistance to the GON on climate change-related
capacity-building efforts so far and expressed the U.S. desire for
continued engagement in the future.

-------
COMMENT

ABUJA 00002189 002 OF 002

-------

7. (SBU) The Mission believes that Nigeria's interest in
implementing its Gas Master Plan to address the twin challenges of
gas flaring and electricity shortage might ultimately persuade the
GON to support a practical solution at Copenhagen. The Gas Mater
Plan will not succeed without private sector involvement, and the
Minister believes that private sector involvement will be crucial to
realizing the specific benefits of a Copenhagen agreement, such as
carbon credits. However, Nigeria needs to show greater political
will and commit more of its own resources in partnership with the
private sector in order to make this happen.

SANDERS

© Scoop Media