Indonesia still far from greenhouse gas reduction target

Hans Nicholas Jong The Jakarta Post 7 Jun 16;

Indonesia still has a long way to go to achieve its carbon emission reduction target as efforts to combat climate change are being hampered at the regional level, a World Resources Institute ( WRI ) Indonesia analysis shows.

In 2013, Indonesia had achieved just 2.25 percent of the total target of carbon emission reductions at the provincial level, which is set to be achieved by 2020, according to the WRI analysis on various government data.

“Seeing how Indonesia only has four years left, provinces have to push for better implementation [in the climate change mitigation program] to meet the target by 2020,” WRI Indonesia climate program coordinator Andhyta F. Utami said.

WRI Indonesia came up with the figure by using carbon emission reduction evaluation and monitoring documentation from 34 provinces, which was submitted to the National Action Plan on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions ( RAN-GRK ) secretariat at the National Development Planning Agency ( Bappenas ).

After that, WRI Indonesia compared the total emission reduction that all provinces had achieved to the commitment laid out in the gubernatorial regulations on a provincial action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“If this data is accurate, then we have to better implement the carbon reduction program. But if it’s wrong, then there needs to be better monitoring of the implementation of the program,” Andhyta said.

A Bappenas analysis, meanwhile, shows that Indonesia succeeded in reducing its carbon emissions by 15.5 percent from 2010 to 2015. Indonesia is aiming for a 29 percent emission reduction by 2030.

According to WRI Indonesia analysis, there is much contradiction between regional government development programs and their greenhouse gas reduction programs.

For instance, West Kalimantan’s development road map contains a target of increasing the consumption of mineral resources, while East Java is aiming to increase exploration and exploitation activities to develop mining and mineral resources.

“The development priorities in these two provinces contradict climate change mitigation proposals, such as protecting the remaining forest and reforestation. They need to find ways to balance their development plans with the emission reduction efforts, which contradict each other,” said Andhyta.

Among all the provinces, North Sumatra had the highest amount of carbon emissions in 2010, emitting 260 million tons of CO2. It was followed by Riau, East Java, Central Kalimantan and Lampung as provinces with the highest greenhouse gas emissions.

“The main source of emissions in those provinces vary, from agriculture, forestry, energy, transportation, industry and waste,” said Andhyta.

However, Papua, one of the most underdeveloped provinces in the country, has the highest carbon emissions per capita, with more than 80 million tons of CO2 per 1,000 people. Meanwhile, North Sumatra ranks fourth in terms of carbon emissions per capita, with 20 million tons of CO2 per 1,000 people. Emissions per capita is calculated by dividing the total carbon emissions with the total population.

“It means that every person in Papua is responsible for more emissions than a person in North Sumatra. It shows that every individual has to have a sense of responsibility,” WRI Indonesia country director Tjokorda Nirarta Samadhi said.( dmr )