US embassy cable - 00THEHAGUE1876

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001876 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR G, OES, OES/EGC, EUR/UBI, EUR/ERA 
EPA/OIA FOR PAULO ALMEIDA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, PREL, ENRG, ECON, NL 
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE:  ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY FUNDS 
PROJECTS ABROAD 
 
 
REF: THE HAGUE 1144 
 
 
1.  DUTCH ENVIRONMENT MINISTER PRONK TOLD THE DUTCH 
PARLIAMENT ON JUNE 20 THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED 
THAT HIS MINISTRY, RATHER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT 
COOPERATION MINISTRY, SHOULD FINANCE CLIMATE CHANGE 
PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.  ACCORDING TO PRONK, 
THIS REQUIRES A CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT COALITION 
ACCORD OF 1998. 
 
 
2.  THE 1998 COALITION ACCORD STIPULATED THAT THE 
NETHERLANDS MUST REALIZE HALF OF ITS GHG REDUCTIONS 
THROUGH USE OF FLEXIBLE INSTRUMENTS ABROAD. FOR CLEAN 
DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) PROJECTS, THE GOVERNMENT 
HAD SET ASIDE SOME 250 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 2001 AND 
2002, WHICH HAD TO COME FROM THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 
BUDGET. 
 
 
3.  PRONK, WHO AT THE TIME OF THE COALITION AGREEMENT 
WAS MINISTER FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, SHARPLY 
OPPOSED USING AID FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.  SO 
DID ALL EU MEMBER-STATES. 
 
 
4.  IT NOW SEEMS THAT, AFTER TWO YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT 
HAS GIVEN IN TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM. 
DUTCH FINANCE MINISTER ZALM WILL GIVE PRONK AN EXTRA 
250 MILLION DOLLARS, TO BE FINANCED FROM CURRENT DUTCH 
BUDGET SURPLUSES. 
 
 
5.  DUTCH NEWSPAPERS COMMENT THAT THE MEASURE WAS TAKEN 
TO ENHANCE PRONK'S CREDIBILITY AS CHAIRMAN OF COP-6. 
PRONK TOLD PARLIAMENT THAT HE WANTS TO KEEP "ALL CARDS 
ON THE TABLE AND ALL BALLS IN THE AIR" AT THE 
CONFERENCE.  HE SAID THAT HE WANTS AS MANY COUNTRIES AS 
POSSIBLE TO AGREE ON CONCRETE MEASURES TO PROTECT THE 
CLIMATE, AND, ALSO, HE SEEKS US SUPPORT FOR STRONG 
MEASURES TO LIMIT GHG EMISSIONS. 
SCHNEIDER