Indonesia Hopes To Be Role Model In Combating Climate Change: Minister

Bernama 23 Dec 09;

JAKARTA, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- Indonesia hopes that the world sees its eagerness and capability in conducting all concrete plans related to climate change before the Conference of the Parties (COP) 16 in Mexico.

In a statement, Minister for Environment Gusti Muhammad Hata said with such strategies, Indonesia hope to become the role model for developing and developed countries, Antara news agency reported.

He said that Indonesia still commits to immediately start new step to decrease emission of 26 percent from business as usual (BAU) in 2020.

"In March 2010, we will complete all concrete plans and immediately start with real action nationally with all public elements. Before the COP 16 in Mexico, the world will see Indonesia wants and could (implement the plan).

"We hope that developing countries are triggered to do the same thing, so do the developed ones by implementing principles of common but differentiated responsibilities," Antara cited Gusti as saying.

He added that even though results of COP 15 in Denmark's Copenhagen were not satisfying, Indonesia will still try to maximize them for the country's sake in efforts to save the Earth.

According to Gusti, efforts that could be done include energy conservation, standardization of vehicle efficiency, increasing public transportation and implementing environment-friendly technology for industry, among others.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the National Council for Climate Change Rachmat Witoelar told reporters that the world's hope on the COP 15 was answered by about 120 head of states in the form of political decision.

"However, the COP 15 was not without result because there are new opportunities and more benefits in term of saving the Earth," Rachmat said.

He added that even though the Copenhagen Accord (CA) was not very advanced step, countries still moved forward.

The CA is a political decision but was not a legally binding one. The decision set limitation of the global temperature increase of 2 Celsius degree above pre-industry level in 2050, implicating that developed countries should reduce green house gas emissions significantly.

The CA includes countries' commitment to provide some US$30 billion in 2010-2012 for balanced funding in adaptation and mitigation that will be channeled through international institutions.

-- BERNAMA

Reducing carbon emissions 26 pct needs Rp83.3 trillion
Antara 24 Dec 09;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Secretary of State Minister for National Development Planning/chief secretary of the National Development Planning Agency Syahrial Loetan said reducing carbon emissions 26 percent by 2020 would need Rp83.3 trillion.
"Our plan is that to reduce carbon emissions to 26 percent needs Rp 83.3 trillion up to 2020," he said in Jakarta Wednesday.

He said that to achieve the projected carbon emission reduction, the government has seven priority sectors.

The priorities include that the energy used would reduce carbon emission by one percent. The transportation and industrial sectors will support the reduction of carbon emissions respectively by 0.3 percent and 0.01 percent.

The agricultural sector is expected to reduce the carbon emissions by 0.3 percent, forestry by 13.3 percent, waste management by 1.6 percent, and peatland management by 9.6 percent.

He said that any donor institution with a commitment to take part in reducing carbon emissions in Indonesia, the government will raise the projected emission reduction to 41 percent by 2020.

"Donors with a contribution, our Corporate Social Responsibility may be set at 41 percent," he added.

Up till now, he said, commitments to the emission reduction program have yet to be better arranged. He said many countries had expressed interest in taking part in the program in Indonesia.

"As Indonesia has been assumed at one of the world`s lungs, but since we have yet to be arranged better, such as what had been offered for the program, the measures to be submitted, how to monitor them, we will try to see that all of them are transparent and accountable," he said. (*)