Indonesia: President to Introduce Forestry Reforms, Moratorium at Climate Change Summit

Novy Lumanauw Jakarata Globe 29 Nov 15;

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo will introduce Indonesia's plans to reform the way it manages its forest and peatland at the annual conference of parties on climate change in Paris this week, as it sets an ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 29 percent by 2030.

Joko was scheduled to issue a regulation on peat management before heading to Paris, according to Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar. But as he departed at 9.45 a.m. on Sunday, it became clear that the draft regulation will be introduced at the summit, where Indonesia is expected to answer some tough questions regarding the recent wildfire in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

Shortly before departing, the president told reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in East Jakarta that he will ask leaders of developed nations to assist Indonesia in reaching this goal through funding, technology and capacity building.

For its part, Indonesia will introduce a series of reforms in how the country manages its forest and peatland after experiencing one of the worst environmental disasters in its history recently, with daily carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires in October alone exceeding total emissions from the United States' economic activity.

“We will reveal the concrete steps we will take [to reach the target], including peatland restoration, review of existing [forest and peatland exploitation] permits and [introducing] a moratorium [on deforestation] for a specific time,” Joko said.

The president is also scheduled to stage several bilateral talks with state leaders from the Netherlands, Norway, India and South Africa at the sideline of the summit.

“We are committed [to tackling climate change] because we are [a nation] of 17,000 islands which will be devastated from rising sea levels,” he said.

The Paris summit is expected to result in an international and legally binding agreement of efforts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, which scientists believe to be the tipping point for catastrophic climate change.


Jokowi departs for UN climate conference in Paris
thejakartapost.com 29 Nov 15;

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo left Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta for Paris on Sunday morning to attend the UN Climate Change conference.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said President Jokowi would convey Indonesia’s stance on the fight against climate change during the Paris negotiations, which are set to start on Monday.

Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, Retno said the President, together with 147 other world leaders, would deliver views related to several ongoing climate change issues and explain Indonesia’s position in dealing with the problems.

“The President will convey an Indonesian statement for around three to five minutes. In the statement, we will convey several things, one of which is to give our political support for the success of the negotiations,” said Retno as quoted by Antara news agency.

She said that in the conference, Jokowi would also explain about Indonesia’s strategic position as one of the countries with the largest forests but geographically also prone to the impact of climate change.

“As a developing country, we still need space that is adequate for us to carry out our economic development,” said Retno.

She highlighted that Indonesia had conveyed its commitments on emissions reduction, showing its responsibility to take part in global climate efforts.

State Secretary Pratikno said that apart from attending the UN climate conference, President Jokowi was also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a number of state leaders while in Paris.

Indonesia is one of 195 members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the country’s role is crucial in climate change and global development policies.

It is expected that the pledges of more than 150 countries to cut emissions, described as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), could lay a basis for the achievement of a deal in the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC in Paris. (ebf)


Jokowi to deliver Indonesia’s commitment to climate change
Thejakartapost.com 30 Nov 15;

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has arrived in Paris, France, to attend the UN climate conference, COP21.

The annual summit is expected to produce the first global commitment to cut emissions, which will extend or replace the Kyoto Protocol that only obligated industrialized countries to make cuts.

Jokowi is set to start his day by attending the COP21 welcoming of leaders ceremony, where he will be greeted by French President Francois Hollande and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

During a session for heads of state, Antara news agency reported that Jokowi said he would offer Indonesia’s full support for the success of COP21 as well as moral support for France following the recent terrorist attack.

Jokowi will also assert the country’s contributions on the climate change issue, especially in encouraging the full realization of the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.

“We will provide political support and commitment, just like at the previous conference. Due to our convenient position with [more than] 17,000 islands, we have to ensure [that the effects of climate change] can be minimized [as they can] increase sea levels,” Jokowi said at Halim Perdanakusuma airport on Sunday morning.

He added that Indonesia would deliver its commitment to decreasing emissions as well as concrete issues regarding peatland restoration and a review of old permits and moratoriums within a certain period.

On the sidelines of the summit, Jokowi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Peru’s President Ollanta M. Humala Tasso.

He will also attend a forest event initiated by Norway, Britain and Peru as well as a mission innovation event. (kes)