Indonesia submits emission cuts target to UN

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 1 Feb 10;

Indonesia has lodged an official report on its emission reduction target to the UN on Sunday as doubts remain over the possibility of countries to reach an ambitious deal this year.

In its seven-page report, Indonesia reaffirmed its pledge to cut emissions by 26 percent from current levels by 2020 to combat climate change.

“We have met the deadline and confirmed our target in the report to the UN,” head of the National Council on Climate Change (DNPI), Rachmat Witoelar, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

“Everything we promised in the report will be carried out.”

A non-binding Copenhagen accord set a Jan. 31 deadline for countries to confirm their participation in a deal brokered by the US in last month’s climate talks in Denmark.

The US, which rejected binding targets under the Kyoto Protocol, has also submitted its official report to cut 17 percent of emissions by 2020 from 2005 levels.

The Copenhagen accord was made after a deadlock on emission cut targets between rich nations
and emerging economies to fight climate change. The accord stipulates that countries should limit the rise of global temperature by 2 degrees Celsius.

DNPI secretary Agus Purnomo said Indonesia’s report did not include details on how it would meet the 26 percent emission cut.

“We already have a detailed concept on how to meet the target. The report to the UN, however, only stipulates that emission cuts would be from seven areas,” he said.

The seven sectors include deforestation, peat land, sustainable energy sources, energy efficiency, public transport and waste management.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vowed to cut emissions last year before the Copenhagen talks, making Indonesia the first developing country to promise to voluntarily cut emissions despite plans to increase country’s economic growth.

With the 26 percent commitment, Indonesia has to allocate Rp83 trillion to cut 767 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) said that Sunday’s deadline for countries to lodge targets and details of emission reduction programs was opportunities for nations that pushed for the climate accord to show they were serious about it.

“Sunday is the self-imposed deadline for countries to lay out what they are actually going to do to keep the world out of the danger zone.” Kim Carstensen, leader of the WWF’s global climate initiative, said in a statement.

Carstensen said for the great majority countries, this implied a considerable increase in commitment so far.

“Emissions reductions on the table at Copenhagen were clearly setting us up for a world three or more degrees warmer, even without taking into account various large loopholes allowing for dubious emissions reductions claims and double counting of claims,” Carstensen said.

Meanwhile, UN climate chief Yvo De Boer said in Davos that he could not guarantee the upcoming deal in Mexico would reach the much-awaited legally binding treaty.