Summary Note. Delegation Visit to Washington DC, USA October 2009

Transcription

1 Brussels, 5 November 2009 Summary Note Delegation Visit to Washington DC, USA October 2009 I. Composition and objective of the delegation The main objective of the delegation was to meet with Members of the US Congress, the US Administration and other stakeholders to discuss with them climate and energy issues, in particular in view of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. The official delegation consisted of six Members. It was led by Jo LEINEN (S&D, DE), Chairman of the ENVI Committee, and included Elisabetta GARDINI (EPP, IT), Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV (ALDE, BG), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Bairbre DE BRÚN (GUE/NGL, UK), Anna ROSBACH (EFD, DK). One other Member, Kriton ARSENIS (S&D, EL) joined the delegation as associated member. The delegation was accompanied by Andreas HUBER and Bérangère BASIN from the ENVI Secretariat. Roger CHADWICK (ALDE Secretariat), Terhi LEHTONEN (Greens/EFA Secretariat), Pier Paolo GRECO (Consultant to Mrs. GARDINI) and Elena DZHUROVA (Assistant to Pr. PANAYOTOV) came along with the delegation. II. Programme of meetings The delegation visit started on Monday 26 October evening with a briefing by Mr. Angelos PANGRATIS, Deputy Head of the European Commission Delegation to the US. On Tuesday 27 October, in the morning, the delegation had a series of discussions with representatives from the main Think Tanks/NGOs active in the US on the issue of climate change: Mr.

2 Elliot DIRINGER from the PEW Center, Mr. Nigel PURVIS and Mr. Andrew STEVENSON from Climate Advisers, Mrs. Cathleen KELLY from the German Marshall Fund. The discussions focused on the status of the debate in the US regarding climate change and the recent initiatives taken in this area by the Congress, namely the Waxman-Markey bill adopted by the House on 26 June 2009 and the Kerry- Boxer bill currently debated in the Senate. The afternoon of Tuesday 27 October was devoted to meetings with Members of Congress. The delegation had the opportunity to meet key actors involved in the climate and energy debate: Congressman SENSENBRENNER (R WI) Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Senator BINGAMAN (D - NM), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Senator BOXER (D CA), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and co-sponsor of the currently debated Kerry-Boxer bill, Senator MERKLEY (D OR), Senator WHITEHOUSE (D RI) and Senator LAUTENBERG (D - NJ) from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Congressmen from the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition including Congressman INSLEE (D WA), Congressman CONNOLLY (D VA) and Congresswoman KILROY (D OH). On the evening of Tuesday 27 October, the delegation attended a round table organized by the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN) and chaired by Senator BENETT (R UT). On Wednesday 28 October, the delegation started in the House with a meeting with Congresswoman Betsy MARKEY (D CO), followed by a round table with Congressmen of the EU US Caucus. The next step was the US State Department, where the delegation met Drew NELSON, negotiator from the Office of Global Change. The discussion was mainly focused the US position in the forthcoming UN Climate negotiations in Copenhagen. In the afternoon of Wednesday 28 October, the delegation headed to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) where they had a discussion with Brian McLEAN, Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs, notably on the potential role of the EPA in regulating GreenHouse Gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. This meeting was followed by a briefing by Rob BRADLEY and Paul JOFFE from the World Resources Institute. The evening of Wednesday 28 October was devoted to a round table with US Climate Action Partnership (US CAP), a group of businesses and leading environmental organizations that have come together to call on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. On the morning of Thursday 29 October, Jo LEINEN, Head of the delegation, held a Press Conference, which was attended by around 15 journalists representing US and international press (see press release attached). The delegation then went to the Department of Energy, where they met with Rick DUKE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Clean Energy and Climate. The delegation had then two further meetings in the Senate, namely with Senator SANDERS (I VT) from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and with the staff of Senator KERRY. III. Issues discussed The delegation discussed a wide range of both general and specific issues during its various meetings and visits in Washington and mainly: Main trends in current Climate Change debate in the US - Public opinion now much more aware of the challenge of climate change - Fears of continuing rise of energy price and job losses - Emphasis on technology

3 - Businesses getting involved - Dramatic change in the US attitude towards climate changed compared to one year ago - Climate protection one of the priority of the Obama s Administration Climate Legislation in Congress - Waxman-Markey bill adopted by the House on 26 June 2009 (17% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 compared to 2005) - Kerry-Boxer bill currently discussed by the Senate (so far, 20% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 compared to Hearings on Kerry-Boxer bill in Senate EPW Committee were taking place exactly at the same time the delegation was in the US.) - Cap & trade system Actions by the Administration - Obama in February: 14% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020 compared to EPA s levy: Should Congress fail to rapidly adopt a climate legislation, EPA would regulate GHG emission under the Clean Air Act. Strong tool for the Administration to put pressure on the Congress to urge them to adopt a climate legislation. - Actions by the Department of Energy Perspectives regarding international negotiations in Copenhagen - Comprehensive detailed agreement or Architecture + agreement on a deadline to conclude the deal? - Ambitious targets - Financing - Probability of having the Senate adopting its bill before Copenhagen (seems low), - but fair chance that the bill will be out of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee before December. - Need for the EU and the US to have a leading role and to work hand in hand IV. Points for follow-up - Extremely important to maintain a dialogue with the US on climate issues. - Organize joint side events in Copenhagen between the European Parliament and the US Congress.

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6 DELEGATION VISIT TO WASHINGTON October 2009 PROGRAMME Composition of delegation MEPs: Jo LEINEN - S&D Elisabetta GARDINI - EPP Vladko Todorov PANAYOTOV - ALDE Bas EICKHOUT - Greens/EFA Bairbre DE BRÚN - GUE/NGL Anna ROSBACH - EFD Kriton ARSENIS - S&D Staff Andreas HUBER Bérangère BASIN Roger CHADWICK Terhi LEHTONEN Pier Paolo GRECO Elena DZHUROVA MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2009 Afternoon Individual arrival at the hotel Meeting in the hotel lobby and departure Palomar Hotel 2121 P Street, NW Washington DC, Evening Angelos PANGRATIS, Deputy Head of EC Delegation to the US Dinner with participants of the delegation EC Delegation 2300 M St, NW Washington, DC 20037

7 TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER Meeting point in hotel lobby and departure PEW Center, Elliot DIRINGER, Vice President for International Strategies Palomar Hotel, 2121 P Street, NW, Washington DC, EC Delegation 2300 M St, NW Washington, DC Climate Advisers, Nigel PURVIS, Director Andrew STEVENSON, Policy Associate the German Marshall Fund, Cathleen KELLY, Director Climate and Energy Program EC Delegation 2300 M St, NW Washington, DC Congressman SENSENBRENNER (R -WI) Ranking Member, Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming Senator BINGAMAN, (D - NM) Chairman, Committee on Energy & Natural Resources 2449 Rayburn House Office Building (4th floor) 703 Hart Building (7th floor) (almost) on the corner of 2nd and Constitution NE Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Senator BOXER (D CA), Chairwoman Senator MERKLEY (D OR) Senator WHITEHOUSE (D RI) Senator LAUTENBERG (D - NJ) Capitol Building Room S Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition Caucus of 49 Democrats, Congressmen Congressman INSLEE (D WA) Congressman CONNOLLY (D VA) Congresswoman KILROY (D OH) Capitol Building, room HC 6 from Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN) round table/dinner Chaired by Senator BENETT (R - UT) Le Salon, St Regis Hotel th and K Streets Washington DC Dress code: Business attire (men: suit and tie)

8 WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER Meeting point in hotel lobby and departure Palomar Hotel 2121 P Street, NW Washington DC, Congresswoman B. MARKEY (D CO) Longworth House Office Building EU Caucus, Members of Congress, House of Representatives Rayburn House Office Building Room B US State Department, Drew NELSON, Office of Global Change 2201 C St NW Washington, DC 20008! Be there at 10.45! Congressman BOUCHER (D - VA) Committee on Energy and Commerce House, 2187 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C EPA, Brian McLEAN, Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs! Be there at 14.45! Environmental Protection Agency 1310 L Street N.W. Washington, D.C World Resources Institute, Rob BRADLEY and Paul JOFFE WRI 10 G Street NE Suite 800 Washington, DC from U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) Round Table / Dinner with USCAP members (Hosted by Alstom and other companies from USCAP) D'Acqua, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Dress code: Business attire (men: suit and tie)

9 THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER Meeting point in hotel lobby and departure Press Conference US Department of Energy Rick DUKE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Clean Energy and Climate Senator SANDERS (I - VT) Environment and Public Works Committee and Energy and Natural Resources Committee Palomar Hotel 2121 P Street, NW Washington DC, EC Delegation 2300 M St, NW Washington, DC Independence Ave., S.W.! be there earlier! security forms to be filled in advance Senate Dirksen Building Room Senator KERRY staff, Melanie NAKAGAWA Senate Dirksen building room 419 afternoon evening end of programme Flight back