Indonesia to prepare concrete steps after Copenhagen talks

Antara 20 Dec 09;
Dubai (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia will prepare a number of concrete steps after the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The move was part of active steps Indonesia would take without having to wait for the adoption of a new protocol to replace the Kyoto Protocol which will expire in 2012, the president said on Saturday night in a press conference during a stopover in Dubai on his flight from Copenhagen to Jakarta.

"Indonesia is moving forward so as not to miss every opportunity. We have been struggling and making every effort," he said.

Yudhoyono said the concept of the so-called Copenhagen Accord was endorsed by the plenary session on Saturday morning with 194 countries participating.

As a follow up to the developments, Indonesia hoped there would be profound concepts for discussion at a similar conference to be held in Mexico by the end of 2010, he said.

"Besides the updated national action plan, we have to ensure that regional action plans will be attached to it. By doing do, we do not need to wait for the adoption of a new protocol," he said.

The president and entourage are expected to arrive in Jakarta at 09.30 a.m.

Indonesia hails Copenhagen accord
Antara 20 Dec 09;

Dubai (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia hails the endorsement of the Copenhagen Accord concept to be part of the UN climate change summit.

"Shortly before the plane took off I received a phone call from the foreign minister who along with the chairman of the Indonesian delegation took part in the plenary session.

In his report he said the concept of the so-called Copenhagen Accord prepared by 26 countries in the past two days was accepted at the plenary session," the president said on Saturday night in a press conference during a stopover in Dubai on his flight from Copenhagen to Jakarta.

The president said shortly before he called the press conference he had phoned chairman of the Indonesian delegation to the UN climate change talks Rachmat Witoelar to ask about latest developments.

"I have just been in talks with Rachmat Witoelar. He said discussions were underway
to synchronize what has been endorsed," he said.

Although the Indonesian delegation to the summit was still unsatisfied with a number of things, the government felt relief that the country`s proposal for the inclusion of measurement, reporting, verifying (MRV) point in the accord had been accepted.

"MRV is designed to ensure that all targets must be met. The obligation applies to all developed and developing nations. We want the concept implemented and delivered well. Don`t leave it unimplemented," he said.

The president and entourage are scheduled to arrive at Halim Perdanakusuma military airport, eastern Jakarta, at 08.30 a.m.

Climate Activists Say Jakarta Governor’s 30% Emissions Pledge Is Hot Air
Arientha Primanita, Jakarta Globe 20 Dec 09;

Environmental activists on Sunday criticized the Jakarta governor’s pledge to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, saying the target was far too optimistic.

“It’s impossible to reach under Jakarta’s current conditions. It [the target] is a manifestation of the euphoria of being at a world conference,” Ahmad Safrudin, chairman of the Committee Against Leaded Gasoline (KPBB), told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, who joined President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the recently concluded climate summit in Copenhagen, said his administration would continue to pursue environmentally-friendly initiatives, including integrated waste management, kerosene conversion to gas and the “one man one tree” program.

“The city will continue to work on transportation reform with eco-friendly macrotransport schemes like the Bus Rapid Transit and the planned Mass Rapid Transit,” he said.

Fauzi also emphasized the importance of devolving to regional governments the responsibility for implementing the Carbon Finance and Clean Development Mechanism.

Ahmad, however, said the devil was in the detail. Policies such as non-smoking areas, vehicle emissions testing and waste management have been poorly implemented, he said.

He said that only when all 15 busway corridors were operational and properly managed could the city count on the system to address traffic woes. Transportation, he added, accounts for 70 percent of the air pollution in the city.

Ahmad added that the city urgently needed to implement a traffic management system. With significantly less traffic, he said, emissions could be cut by up to 40 percent.

Ubaidillah, the executive director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said he was pessimistic the governor’s pledge could be met.

“Just take a look at the development orientation. Commercial interests tend to win the city’s attention ahead of ecological issues,” he said.

He said industry, which accounts for 20 percent of pollution in the city, needed to reduce its impact. The final issue, he said, is allocating more green space to absorb emissions and pollution.